Zelensky says U.S. is readying huge economic deals with Russia

KYIV – Days after negotiations to halt Russia’s war in Ukraine ended inconclusively in Abu Dhabi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia and the United States were discussing bilateral economic agreements worth some $12 trillion, including deals that would affect Ukraine.

Zelensky said intelligence sources showed him documents that laid out a framework for U.S.-Russian economic cooperation that he called the “Dmitriev package” — named for Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund and a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin who has been a central figure in negotiations over a potential ceasefire.

President Donald Trump previously has dangled the possibility of sanctions relief and renewed economic cooperation with Russia as inducements for Moscow to agree to halt the war. Putin, however, has insisted that Russia would achieve its objectives in Ukraine one way or another.

Dmitriev drafted a 28-point peace plan with Trump’s envoy to the talks, Steve Witkoff, and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner — first revealed by Axios last November — which included sections for gradually lifting sanctions and creating long-term economic development projects between Russia and Ukraine.

However, Zelensky, backed by European leaders and some members of Congress, has insisted that the sanctions regime against Russia must instead be tightened, to starve the Russian war machine of revenue and Western technological components.

“We are not aware of all their bilateral economic or business agreements, but we are receiving some information on the matter,” Zelensky said during a briefing with journalists Friday, according to a transcript released Saturday.

“There are also various signals, both in the media and elsewhere, that some of these agreements could also involve issues related to Ukraine – for example, our sovereignty or Ukraine’s security,” Zelensky said. “We are making it clear that Ukraine will not support any such even potential agreements about us that are made without us.”

Zelensky’s concerns were made public as Moscow launched another major airstrike on Ukraine’s energy sector, plunging large portions the country into darkness and cold Saturday. The attack also caused Ukraine’s nuclear power plants to reduce their power output as the “military activity affected electrical substations and disconnected some power lines,” the International Atomic Energy Agency wrote on X.

Dmitriev apparently presented the package while meeting with American officials in the U.S., but Zelensky did not say when.

Zelensky’s remarks come as talks to halt Russia’s war increasingly appear to be at an impasse, in particular over the question of who will control Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.

The U.S. has proposed creating a free economic zone in Donetsk, while Putin has demanded that Ukraine surrender the entire region, including areas Russia has failed to capture militarily even as it nears the fourth anniversary of its full-scale invasion.

Zelensky, according to the transcript, said that Washington had proposed bringing the war in Ukraine to an end “by June” and that he expected that “they will probably pressure the parties according to this timeline.”

The main concern for the Americans, Zelensky said, was the midterm congressional elections later this year.

“We understand that they will devote all of their time to domestic processes – elections, a shift in the attitudes of their society,” Zelensky said. “The elections are, for them, definitely more important. Let’s not be naïve. They say they want to achieve everything by June, and they will do everything possible to ensure the war ends that way.”

Separately, U.S. and Ukrainian officials have discussed a goal of March for reaching a deal, with national elections and a referendum on the proposed peace agreement taking place in May, Reuters reported, citing unnamed sources.

“The Americans are in a hurry,” Reuters quoted one of its sources as saying, adding that U.S. negotiators had warned that Trump will shift his focus to the elections.
U.S., Ukrainian and Russian officials have met in Abu Dhabi twice in recent weeks to try to forge an agreement, but there has been no breakthrough. Still, Ukrainian negotiators say that the tone and substance of the talks have markedly improved.

Zelensky said that Washington proposed that the parties meet in a week for the first time in the U.S. — “likely in Miami.”

“We have confirmed our participation,” he said.

Meanwhile, Russia’s strikes overnight Friday into Saturday marked a continuation of its relentless aerial onslaught against Ukraine’s power plants and electrical grid.
Ukraine’s air force said that Russia had launched 29 missiles and 408 attack drones at locations across the country — and that 13 missiles and 21 drones struck in 19 locations.
Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a statement Saturday that its armed forces had carried out a “massive strike using precision-guided sea and air-launched long-range weapons” at energy and transport facilities “used in the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ interests” and “defense industry enterprises.”

However, the barrage left large swathes of the civilian population without light and heat as temperatures remained well below freezing – a regular occurrence this winter as Russia has targeted the energy infrastructure supplying the entire country.

Ukraine’s state energy grid operator, Ukrenergo, in a post on social media, said that the assault was the second major attack on the entire energy system since the beginning of the year and that “energy facilities in eight regions” were struck.

Power outages occurred across the country, Ukrenergo said.

Zelensky, posting on X, said that the bombardment “deliberately targeted … energy facilities on which depends the operation of Ukrainian nuclear power plants.”
“This puts at risk not only our security in Ukraine, but also the shared regional and European security,” he wrote. “We believe that partners in America, in Europe, and in other states who want peace must view this with a clear head and act accordingly.”

This is how Russia will win the war that Europe thinks they can’t win. UNO Reverse baby!

>bilateral economic agreements worth some $12 trillion,

Wow. And think about the ideology of the current US administration. It mirrors Russia’s perfectly, wanting corrupt oligarchs and the state to be one and the same. This is really bad.

So a $2.5 trillion economy just negotiated a $12 trillion deal and seizure of large swathes of another country from a country worth about $30 trillion that has delusions about being “leaders of the free world”.

Trump has divided Russias main threats and damaged the economy of the country he claims to represent.

Fair play to Putin if true, he has played Trump like the demented egomaniac criminal he is.

Art of the deal alright. Fuck em both.

If Trump wants Russian resources cheap – he should have supported Ukraine, sanctioned Russia and their partners into a bankruptcy and then ride in with all the US corporate overlords to save starving Russians. They would have no negotiating power AND for once in the existence of that sorry excuse of a country would be forced to face some accountability for the crimes they’ve committed.

But no, Putin invaded a neighbouring country, stole 20% of their land, ruined lives for millions of people and will be rewarded just because he can’t admit it was a moronic move to start the “SMO” and won’t stop killing people (Ukrainians *and* Russians) unless you give him what he wants. Great. 4D chess moves right there.

Fool if any US or Russian citizen think they will see a dime of anything those villains do together 

Russia’s economy is shitty, though. Plus, their populace is relatively poor. 

Winning must be something only wokies do or smth ig

hes just afraid he wont be able to steal as much once the war is over

The bots are out in full force never forget the real enemy sits in Moscow and now Washington

No surprise, putin has to get back his investment from his orange employee.

That explains deadline. There is $ to be made.

What is this deal?

Well, USA = Futur Russia, si it’s not surprising.
We should treat them like a futur “not a democracy anymore” and “corrupted country” right now.

Crazy timeline.

US is so cooked.

the whole russia’s pathetic economy is maybe 2 trillion, that just looks like a bunch of bs lol

I’m so glad history and critical thinking is taught in European schools.