Russia’s Security Council prepares massive sanctions relief proposal for the United States ahead of high stakes Alaska summit talks

In the months leading up to the August 2025 summit in Alaska, Russia’s Security Council reportedly put together what insiders later described as a “greatest deal” blueprint aimed squarely at Washington.

That’s according to a detailed account by The Economist, which said the proposal was designed to tempt the United States with sweeping economic and strategic incentives in exchange for sanctions relief.

At its core, the reported offer revolved around one big trade-off: loosen the sanctions regime that has weighed on Russia since 2014 and intensified after 2022, and in return gain access to massive business opportunities stretching from energy to infrastructure.

Neither the Kremlin nor the White House has officially confirmed that such a plan exists.

Still, the report has stirred debate across diplomatic and financial circles.

The 12 Trillion Dollar Claim

The most eye-catching figure came from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Citing Ukrainian intelligence, he claimed US representatives were presented with potential agreements totaling an astonishing 12 trillion dollars.

That number, if accurate, would place the proposal among the most ambitious economic outreach efforts in modern geopolitical history.

For context, it would rival or exceed the GDP of some of the world’s largest economies.

However, there is a critical caveat: no official documentation has been made public, and both Moscow and Washington have stayed silent on whether any such commitments were formally discussed.

Reopening the Door for American Business

One of the most concrete elements reportedly involved financial restructuring.

According to the account, Russia would allow American companies to repurchase assets they had previously transferred to Russian management.

These assets were estimated at around 60 billion dollars and, notably, were handed over without buyback clauses when Western firms exited the market.

Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine in 2022, hundreds of Western companies either suspended operations or left Russia entirely.

Some sold at steep discounts; others transferred ownership under government pressure.

A pathway for reentry could significantly reshape Russia’s post-sanctions economic landscape.

It also reflects a broader reality: despite political tensions, global capital often looks for ways back into resource-rich markets.

Arctic Energy and a Tunnel Under the Bering Strait

Beyond financial engineering, the reported package leaned heavily into strategic projects, especially in the Arctic.

The proposals allegedly included joint ventures in Arctic oil and gas, rare-earth mineral extraction, and even a nuclear-powered data center.

Infrastructure was another centerpiece, including a highly ambitious idea: a tunnel beneath the Bering Strait linking Russia and the United States.

The Arctic has become a geopolitical hotspot.

As climate change melts sea ice, new shipping lanes like the Northern Sea Route are becoming more viable.

The region is also believed to hold vast untapped reserves of hydrocarbons and critical minerals essential for high-tech industries and renewable energy systems.

Control and cooperation in the Arctic are not just about economics; they are about long-term strategic positioning.

Russia has already expanded its Arctic military infrastructure in recent years, while the US has sought to strengthen its Arctic alliances through NATO partners such as Norway and Canada.

The So-Called Dmitriev Package

President Zelensky referred to the alleged proposal as the “Kirill Dmitriev package,” linking it to Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

Dmitriev has long advocated for pragmatic economic ties with Western investors.

In public remarks in 2025, he called for deeper cooperation between Russia and the United States in Arctic infrastructure, energy development, and environmental initiatives.

He even referenced historical links tied to Alaska, which Russia sold to the United States in 1867.

Previous reporting by The Wall Street Journal suggested that American and Russian business representatives had held exploratory discussions about mining and energy stakes.

While exploratory talks do not equal policy shifts, they often signal that private-sector actors are mapping out possible future scenarios.

Sanctions Relief Is Not Simple

Even if Washington were interested, lifting or easing sanctions would be legally and politically complex.

The report cited Patrick Lord of Risk Advisory, who said US legal experts had spent significant time examining the mechanics of sanctions relief.

Over the summer, according to the magazine, American lawyers reportedly assessed what would be required to amend or roll back restrictions.

Sanctions imposed after 2014 and expanded dramatically following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine are layered across executive orders, congressional legislation, and coordinated measures with allies such as the European Union and the United Kingdom.

Undoing them would require not just presidential action, but potentially congressional approval and delicate coordination with transatlantic partners.

Politically, any move toward sanctions relief would face intense scrutiny in Washington, particularly in an election-sensitive environment.

Moscow’s Conditions for Western Return

The Kremlin has signaled that Western companies are not automatically guaranteed a smooth return.

In September 2025, presidential spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that while all companies could technically come back, the cost would vary.

Firms that exited abruptly, he said, might have to compensate for unpaid obligations or other financial gaps left behind.

That distinction suggests Moscow is willing to reopen its market, but on terms it considers fair—or advantageous.

It also highlights the broader shift in Russia’s economic policy since 2022, which has emphasized import substitution, domestic control of key sectors, and expanded ties with China, India, and other non-Western partners.

A Broader Strategic Play

Stepping back, the reported plan fits into a long-standing Russian strategy: leverage natural resources and geographic advantages to gain diplomatic and economic concessions.

The Arctic, rare-earth minerals, and energy infrastructure are not random talking points. Rare earths are vital for everything from electric vehicles to military hardware.

Nuclear-powered data centers would address the immense energy demands of artificial intelligence and high-performance computing.

A Bering Strait tunnel, while ambitious and costly, would symbolize a dramatic thaw in bilateral relations.

Whether realistic or aspirational, the package appears designed to present cooperation as mutually beneficial, reframing the relationship from confrontation to shared opportunity.

What’s Next?

For now, the alleged proposal remains unconfirmed by the governments directly involved. The next steps depend on several moving parts:

• Whether the United States signals any openness to partial sanctions adjustments.

• How the conflict in Ukraine evolves.

• The stance of Congress and US allies.

• Domestic political calculations in both Moscow and Washington.

If backchannel discussions continue, they are likely to remain discreet.

Any visible shift would require groundwork not just in legal terms, but in public opinion.

In the meantime, businesses on both sides will watch closely.

The possibility of reentry into one of the world’s largest resource markets is not something multinational corporations ignore lightly.

Summary

Reports suggest Russia’s Security Council prepared a sweeping economic proposal ahead of the August 2025 Alaska summit, offering large-scale cooperation in energy, Arctic development, rare-earth mining, infrastructure, and asset buybacks in exchange for sanctions relief.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed the package could total 12 trillion dollars, though neither Moscow nor Washington has confirmed its existence.

The plan, linked by Zelensky to Kirill Dmitriev, would require complex legal and political steps in the United States if sanctions relief were considered.

While Russia has signaled openness to Western companies returning, it has also warned that reentry could come at a price.

For now, the reported “greatest deal” remains a high-stakes possibility rather than a formal agreement.