Russia ready to do business with US if trade is delinked from Ukraine

14-May-2026

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The Kremlin made clear on May 13 that Moscow is open to expand economic ties with the United States -- but only if it stops linking trade ties with a Ukraine peace deal. Speaking during his daily briefing with reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia sees potential for a joint investment and trade projects with the US, despite years of sanctions and long-running tensions triggered by the Ukraine conflict.

"To the extent that the American side is willing to delink the prospects for normalising trade and economic relations from a Ukrainian settlement, or to the extent that a Ukrainian settlement occurs, then we hope the path to the implementation of a whole range of economic projects will be open," Peskov said.