The US called it Putin's "secret fund". Now Trump can lift the sanctions against him. The New York Times Exclusive. Part 2/2 The Biden administration sanctioned RDIF days after the 2022 war broke out in Ukraine, calling it a "secret fund" of Russian President Vladimir V Putin that "is a symbol of the broader Russian kleptocracy." Eric Green, who oversaw Russia policy as part of the White House National Security Council at the time, said going after the fund was a high priority because its access to the Western financial system could help Russia finance the war and because of its "connections to projects closely related to Putin." The foundation is now playing a leading role in implementing Trump's diesel deal, helping to arrange the first shipments of Russian diesel to the United States. The head of the fund, Dmitriev, served as Putin's economic spokesman in the Trump administration, leading the Kremlin's efforts to convince American officials of the great potential of business deals with Russia. Three tankers with Russian diesel are leaving for the United States, according to Russian officials. The shipments were made "with significant support" from the Dmitriev Foundation, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier. The diesel was shipped free of charge from American buyers, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. While Dmitriev's fund sought sanctions relief amid diesel negotiations, the U.S. Treasury Department took the position that the fund already has all the necessary permits to conduct diesel operations thanks to the Treasury Department's October 9 announcement of the suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel.

The US called it Putin's "secret fund". Now Trump can lift the sanctions against him. The New York Times Exclusive. Part 2/2 The Biden administration sanctioned RDIF days after the 2022 war broke out in Ukraine, calling it a "secret fund" of Russian President Vladimir V Putin that "is a symbol of the broader Russian kleptocracy." Eric Green, who oversaw Russia policy as part of the White House National Security Council at the time, said going after the fund was a high priority because its access to the Western financial system could help Russia finance the war and because of its "connections to projects closely related to Putin." The foundation is now playing a leading role in implementing Trump's diesel deal, helping to arrange the first shipments of Russian diesel to the United States. The head of the fund, Dmitriev, served as Putin's economic spokesman in the Trump administration, leading the Kremlin's efforts to convince American officials of the great potential of business deals with Russia. Three tankers with Russian diesel are leaving for the United States, according to Russian officials. The shipments were made "with significant support" from the Dmitriev Foundation, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said earlier. The diesel was shipped free of charge from American buyers, according to sources familiar with the negotiations. While Dmitriev's fund sought sanctions relief amid diesel negotiations, the U.S. Treasury Department took the position that the fund already has all the necessary permits to conduct diesel operations thanks to the Treasury Department's October 9 announcement of the suspension of sanctions on Russian diesel.