US-Russia talks on Ukraine involve multi-billion dollar oil deal, NYT reports

• US-Russia talks on Ukraine have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal involving Russian energy group Lukoil's assets worldwide.
• The deal involves US billionaire Todd Boehly, Middle Eastern groups linked to US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, and requires US and Kremlin approval.
• Russian President Putin suggested the deal in a Kremlin meeting to demonstrate that Russians can do business with the US, according to the New York Times.

NEW YORK - The Trump administration’s talks with Russia on ending the war in Ukraine have expanded to include a multibillion-dollar oil deal that would benefit Middle Eastern business executives with ties to US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the New York Times reported on Oct 3.

The deal, which is contingent on approval from the US government and the Kremlin, involves a sprawling set of oil fields, refineries and gas stations around the world owned by Russian energy group Lukoil, according to the report.

The White House, the US Treasury Department and Lukoil did not respond to requests for comment outside regular business hours.

The group pursuing the deal includes US investor and billionaire Todd Boehly, two Middle Eastern groups that have done business with Kushner or Witkoff’s family, and an arm of the US government, the newspaper said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin raised the deal during a Sept 5 meeting with Witkoff and Kushner at the Kremlin, the NYT said, citing people familiar with the meeting.

Putin proposed completing the deal as a way to show Russians they could do business with the United States, one of the people said. REUTERS