We know the EU member states won’t; they are determined to shut themselves off permanently from the Russian market; but the Trump administration has a different attitude and might.

from Rachel Blevins

As U.S. and Russian officials are set to meet in Saudi Arabia for another round of talks, President Trump’s Envoy, Steve Witkoff, is admitting the importance of the status of the four regions that voted to join Russia in 2022: Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson and Zaporozhye.

As Witkoff described, “They’re Russian-speaking. There have been referendums where the overwhelming majority of the people have indicated that they want to be under Russian rule.”

But would Washington’s recognition of the four regions and Crimea as part of Russia be enough to convince Moscow to agree to a deal?