The Atlantic: Donald Trump backs plan to trade sanctions relief for release of political prisoners

US President Donald Trump supported the initiative to ease US sanctions against Russia in exchange for political prisoners. The Atlantic reports.

“A few months ago, Donald Trump’s envoy to Eastern Europe [John Cole] approached the president with a new idea to break the impasse in relations between the United States and Moscow. The plan involved an exchange of favors reminiscent of the Cold War: the Kremlin would release some political prisoners, and the United States would reward their release by easing sanctions on the Russian economy. Trump agreed,” the report said.

As the publication notes, this new initiative, which is still at an early stage, promises to simultaneously contribute to the achievement of several goals of the American leader: first, it will help reintegrate Russia into the global economy and expand negotiations between Washington and the Kremlin beyond the protracted conflict in Ukraine.

Second, the deal will create an opportunity for the United States to enter into lucrative deals involving Russian oil, diesel fuel, rare earth minerals and other commodities. As a bonus, the magazine writes, releasing prisoners on humanitarian grounds could strengthen the US president's position in the fight for the long-awaited Nobel Peace Prize.

However, The Atlantic emphasizes, such a new approach to interaction with Moscow is likely to cause outrage among Ukrainians, Europeans and even many of the American leader’s allies in Congress.