TL;DR
Get movie nights delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
The Atlantic reports President Trump has approved a proposal by special envoy John Coale to offer Russia sanctions relief in exchange for releasing political prisoners, without waiting for the war in Ukraine to end. Ukraine’s president says he will try to block any pre-war sanctions relief, and the plan is described as early-stage.
President Donald Trump has approved a proposal to ease sanctions on Russia in exchange for the release of political prisoners, without waiting for the war in Ukraine to end, according to a report by The Atlantic‘s Simon Shuster. The plan, drafted by special envoy John Coale, is still in its early stages and has already drawn opposition from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who told the magazine he would do his best to “block” any attempt to lift sanctions before the war ends.
According to Shuster’s reporting, relayed in English by Meduza on September 29, the proposal was put forward by John Coale, a presidential special envoy who previously secured the release of about 500 political prisoners in Belarus in exchange for sanctions relief. Coale’s approach for Moscow aims to break the deadlock in talks between Russia and the United States, Shuster writes.
Under the reported concept, the release of prisoners would be rewarded with sanctions relief and a return to trade deals. Shuster assesses that the arrangement would give Russian President Vladimir Putin a way to demonstrate goodwill and diplomatic progress with Washington without halting Russia’s strikes on Ukraine. Coale argues such deals advance peace, telling The Atlantic: “Economic ties usually result in normality.”
Coale has compiled a list of Americans held in Russian prisons whose cases Washington could raise in negotiations. He and Dmitry Muratov, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former Novaya Gazeta editor-in-chief, put together a separate list of Russian political prisoners, journalists, and people convicted for opposing the war. No specific names or possible U.S. concessions have been disclosed.
Stakes for Sanctions Policy and Ukraine
Western sanctions are one of the main forms of leverage over Moscow, and untying them from an end to the war would mark a shift in how the United States and its allies have structured pressure on Russia. Ukraine sees that sequencing as a direct threat: Zelensky’s stated intention to block pre-war sanctions relief signals potential friction between Kyiv and Washington over the terms of any deal.
Critics warned the mechanism could create perverse incentives. Belarusian opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya told The Atlantic that lifting sanctions in exchange for prisoners could encourage authorities in Russia and Belarus to take more hostages, since “They can always arrest more people” while the West gives up leverage. For families of prisoners, however, the approach offers a possible path to releases that might otherwise remain out of reach.
The Belarus Precedent Behind the Plan
: “Coale’s proposal builds on a reported precedent: the release of roughly 500 political prisoners in Belarus in exchange for sanctions relief. Washington and Minsk have also begun discussing a major deal to buy Belarusian potash, which Trump announced last week. Coale said Russia is involved in those talks because European sanctions mean Belarusian potash would have to be exported through Russia.
Muratov, according to Shuster, encouraged Coale to apply his Belarus approach to the Kremlin and asked the journalist to introduce him to the envoy — a step that led to the joint prisoner list. The wider backdrop is stalled diplomacy between Washington and Moscow over the war in Ukraine, now well into its fourth year.
“Economic ties usually result in normality.”
— John Coale, U.S. special envoy, to The Atlantic
Unconfirmed Terms and Undisclosed Names
The reporting rests on The Atlantic’s account, attributed to Simon Shuster and Coale; there has been no independent official confirmation of the plan’s scope or of Trump’s level of approval beyond the magazine’s report. No specific names of prisoners or possible U.S. concessions have been disclosed, and Shuster describes the plan as still in its early stages. It is not clear whether Moscow has engaged with the proposal, how any sanctions relief would be structured, or how European partners — whose sanctions also cover Belarus-related trade — would respond. The White House has not publicly detailed the initiative.
Negotiations and Pushback to Watch
Watch for whether Washington formally raises the American prisoner list with Moscow, and whether any Russian releases follow. The parallel Belarusian potash negotiations involving Russia could indicate how trade-linked diplomacy develops. Zelensky’s vow to block early sanctions relief sets up a potential test between Kyiv and Washington, and European governments would likely need to be consulted on any easing of joint sanctions. Muratov’s and Coale’s shared list of Russian political prisoners could shape which cases become negotiating priorities.
Key Questions
What exactly did Trump approve, according to the report?
According to The Atlantic’s Simon Shuster, Trump approved a proposal by special envoy John Coale to offer Russia sanctions relief in exchange for releasing political prisoners — without waiting for the war in Ukraine to end.
Who is John Coale?
Coale is a U.S. presidential special envoy who previously secured the release of about 500 political prisoners in Belarus in exchange for sanctions relief, and who is involved in talks on purchasing Belarusian potash.
How has Ukraine responded?
President Zelensky told The Atlantic he would do his best to block any attempt to lift sanctions on Russia before the war ends.
Are any prisoner names or U.S. concessions known?
No. Coale has a list of Americans held in Russia, and he and Dmitry Muratov compiled a list of Russian political prisoners and jailed war opponents, but no names or specific concessions have been disclosed.
What is the Belarus connection?
Coale’s plan applies the approach used with Belarus, where prisoner releases were exchanged for sanctions relief. Washington and Minsk are also discussing a potash deal that, per Coale, involves Russia because sanctions force Belarusian exports through Russian territory.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
