Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff have strongly denied recent claims that they discussed lifting sanctions on Russian energy assets. They labeled the report from Politico as “totally fictitious” and “fake news.”
The Politico article, which used anonymous sources, suggested that Rubio and Witkoff were considering lifting sanctions on Russian energy as part of potential peace talks regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a joint statement, the two officials declared, “This is false. We have not talked about lifting any sanctions on Russia related to a peace deal with Ukraine. This reporting is irresponsible and misleading.”
According to the report, five unnamed individuals claimed Witkoff had been a major supporter of easing sanctions against Russian energy infrastructure, including the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which is crucial for supplying natural gas to Europe.
Witkoff expressed frustration over the misinformation, stating, “There isn’t even a kernel of truth to this story. Politico was played by their ‘sources’ once again. It’s very disappointing to see such fake news being published.”
Rubio’s and Witkoff’s clarifications come after the article suggested internal division within U.S. energy policy makers, with some advocating for stronger ties with Russia against the backdrop of ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
In response to this situation, Donald Trump Jr. criticized Politico for its reporting, questioning how such false narratives continuously gain traction. Utah GOP Senator Mike Lee also highlighted the credibility issues surrounding Politico in light of the report, expressing concerns over the outlet’s substantial reliance on dubious sources.
The sanctions on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline were originally put in place during the Trump administration and reinstated by President Biden after Russia escalated its military actions in Ukraine. The article made note of how energy resources have emerged as a pivotal aspect in the negotiations surrounding a potential peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.
Recent discussions have also revolved around U.S. proposals that include managing Ukraine’s nuclear power facilities and addressing financial agreements tied to military aid. The energy sector remains crucial in these negotiations, particularly after both Russia and Ukraine agreed not to strike each other’s energy infrastructure during a temporary truce.
With U.S. leadership signaling readiness to abandon ceasefire talks if progress isn’t made, the stakes are incredibly high for all involved. The dialogue continues, with significant attention on how these negotiations will unfold in the coming weeks.
