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Trump Weighs Lifting RDIF Sanctions Amid Diesel Deal

By Drooid · Oct 29, 2026 · How we work

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Summary

U.S. President Donald Trump is weighing lifting sanctions on Russia’s Direct Investment Fund (RDIF).
Trump announced a deal to buy over 2 million tons of Russian diesel to lower U.S. fuel costs.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Trump of kowtowing to Putin and threatened to oust him.
Biden-era Russia adviser Eric Green warned that easing RDIF sanctions would signal a relaxation of U.S. pressure.

History

In July 2014 the United States and EU responded to Russia’s annexation of Crimea by freezing about $5.5 billion of assets and banning transactions with energy firms such as Rosneft and banks like VEB. President Trump’s 2024 decision to lift restrictions on Russian Direct Investment Fund reverses that stance, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to warn that easing sanctions could normalize Russian energy sales and weaken deterrence.

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In July 2014 the United States and EU responded to Russia’s annexation of Crimea by freezing about $5.5 billion of assets and banning transactions with energy firms such as Rosneft and banks like VEB. President Trump’s 2024 decision to lift restrictions on Russian Direct Investment Fund reverses that stance, prompting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to warn that easing sanctions could normalize Russian energy sales and weaken deterrence.

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