Trump Officials Deny Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Relief for Russia

The Trump administration had reportedly been weighing the possibility of lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and other energy assets as part of broader efforts to secure a peace deal in Ukraine,  Orda.kz reports, citing Politico.

The outlet made the claim on April 23, citing unnamed sources.

According to the report, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is scheduled to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on April 25 for their fourth round of talks, has been pushing the idea.

However, it has reportedly gained little traction within the White House and is opposed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.

Burgum is also the head of the White House Energy Dominance Council.

Rubio and other U.S. officials have since denied the claims.

This is unequivocally false. Neither Steve Witkoff nor I have had any conversations about lifting sanctions against Russia as part of a deal with Ukraine, Rubio posted on X. 

The report comes as President Donald Trump continues his push for a rapid peace deal in Ukraine.

He has previously warned that he may abandon the effort if there’s no concrete progress soon.