The step is necessary to improve US-Russia relations, spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said

Western sanctions against Moscow would have to be lifted to restore relations between the US and Russia, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday.

The comment follows a Reuters report on Monday which claimed the US was drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief. Since assuming office, US President Donald Trump has sought to restore ties with Moscow and negotiate a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict.

According to Peskov, Moscow has not yet heard any official statements on the issue and considers the restrictions illegal.

"If we talk about normalizing bilateral relations, they need to be freed from this negative burden of so-called sanctions," he stressed.

Initially imposed in 2014 following Crimea's reunification with Russia, US sanctions have been expanded through multiple executive orders and were recently extended for another year through March 6, 2026. According to various estimates, however, the restrictions have largely failed to reach their stated purpose. In 2023, Russia's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 3.6%, according to the national statistical service Rosstat. Last year, the economy grew 4.1%, surpassing the official forecast of 3.9%, as reported by Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin.

Last month, Trump held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, with discussions aimed at resolving the Ukraine conflict and restoring bilateral ties. Subsequently, high-level meetings have taken place in Saudi Arabia and Türkiye between US and Russian officials.

Trump announced last month that he was "trying to do some economic development deals" with Russia, noting its "massive rare earth" deposits. He also signaled that sanctions could be lifted "at some point."

Moscow said in response that it is open to economic cooperation with Washington, including in energy and mining.

(RT.com)