Russian President Vladimir Putin
proposed selling Lukoil's $20 billion international oil assets including fields,
refineries, and gas stations to a bidder group featuring Trump donor Todd
Boehly, Qatar investors tied to Jared Kushner, an Abu Dhabi fund, and a U.S.
government arm. The idea surfaced on September 5 during talks with envoys Steve
Witkoff and Kushner, aimed at rebuilding U.S.-Russia business ties amid Ukraine
peace efforts.
The deal needs approval from both Washington
and Moscow, could lift U.S. sanctions on the assets, and has drawn scrutiny
over the bidders' connections to the negotiators, though no personal profit
evidence exists. Critics see risks to peace goals, while supporters view it as
a way to ease energy prices and foster goodwill.
