Russia and United States discuss future of Lukoil's overseas assets

Following a meeting in St. Petersburg between President Vladimir Putin and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, a Kremlin adviser reported that Moscow and Washington are jointly reviewing the disposition of Lukoil's international assets, which were put up for sale after the company was added to the U.S. sanctions list. Yuri Ushakov said the sanctions and the asset sale are being addressed together, and both sides also touched on larger economic projects without providing details.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov noted that the U.S. Treasury could readily extend the licensing needed for the sale. The asset portfolio has attracted interest from more than a dozen firms, among them ExxonMobil and other notable investors.