Our view First Washington waived almost all tariffs and sanctions under the Graham Act, then agreed to a deal on Russian diesel. Now the question is lifting sanctions on RDIF, which the US Treasury itself once called Putin’s “slush fund”. We believe this is not “diplomacy for peace” but a bargain: fuel prices before the November 3 elections matter more than principles. Worst of all, neither Ukrainians nor Europeans, who pay for this war with gas and money, take part in the bargaining. The same sanctions were used for decades as a tool of pressure on Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, yet for a convenient partner they are lifted with a stroke of the pen. This is not a moral position but a calculation. Recall also that peace talks began in the very first days, and in April 2022, according to Ukrainska Pravda and the later words of David Arakhamia (2023), British Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged Kyiv in person not to sign an agreement and to keep fighting. This is an editorial opinion, not an established fact. The mainstream assessment The administration and supporters of the deal speak of pragmatism: trade and joint projects should open the way to peace in Ukraine. Critics and some US allies see a concession to Moscow with nothing in return. Analysts disagree on whether this is a temporary measure driven by gasoline prices or the start of a wider dismantling of sanctions. What happened Sanctions on RDIF may be lifted: the Trump administration is discussing it with Moscow after the diesel deal. What is known, how it is assessed and what we think. On October 27 The New York Times reported that the Trump administration is considering lifting sanctions on the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF). Moscow is pressing for this so the fund can take part in supplying diesel to the United States. The US Treasury said the fund already has permission for diesel transactions under the October 9 decision and that it is reviewing the request to lift sanctions through the normal process. No final decision has been made. RDIF is headed by Kirill Dmitriev. The fund and its head were sanctioned on February 28, 2022, four days after Russia began military action in Ukraine. In April 2025 Dmitriev was granted a special travel license to hold talks. Moscow confirms that it is discussing a possible easing of sanctions and areas of economic cooperation. At the same time, according to reports, it is seeking to exclude Europeans from key talks on Ukraine. Read also: the sanctions waiver for Russian diesel. Sources The New York Times via Meduza, 27.10.2026 The Boston Globe, 27.10.2026 The Kyiv Independent Photo: HABS / Library of Congress, public domain, Wikimedia Commons (US Treasury building, Washington, historic photo). Post navigation The EU’s €6.6 Billion “Peace Facility”: Money for Weapons Under a Banner of Peace Iran: Qatar Seeks a Deal While the Threat of New Strikes Hangs Over Talks
