The U.S. will refrain from engaging in business with Russia until the ongoing conflict in Ukraine has been settled.
In a historic summit held in Alaska in August 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin met to discuss the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Trump made it clear that he is not there to negotiate for Ukraine, but to get them to the negotiation table. He stated that he is not considering any economic agreements with Russia until the conflict in Ukraine is resolved. As of mid-2025, there are no finalized economic agreements between the U.S. and Russia directly tied to resolving the Ukraine conflict.
Despite the lack of formal agreements, economic trade between the two countries has seen a significant increase. The US-Russia trade volume rose by nearly one-third in the first half of 2025 compared to 2024, with notable increases in imports and exports. This suggests that economic interaction continues, but it is largely independent of formal diplomatic agreements.
During the summit, proposals such as a possible framework agreement involving ceasefire arrangements, limited land swaps, and mutual recognition of current territorial control were discussed. However, these proposals have not been agreed upon or implemented.
Trump showed openness to Putin’s suggestion that Ukraine might cede some territory in exchange for peace, but this was controversial and did not result in concrete treaties.
Trump's stance on the economic situation in Russia is also noteworthy. He believes that Russia is not economically thriving, and Putin may think ending the conflict will help him reach a better deal, but in reality, it hurts him.
In summary, formal economic agreements or sanctions easing between the U.S. and Russia remain tied to progress in resolving the Ukraine conflict; no binding agreements have been reached as of August 2025. Trade between the countries has grown in volume, but larger cooperation or sanction relief awaits diplomatic breakthroughs.
News of the summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in August 2025 highlighted discussions on war-and-conflicts, as they focused on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Trump stated that economic agreements with Russia would only be considered after the resolution of the Ukraine conflict, which remained unresolved as of mid-2025. Despite the lack of formal economic agreements, general-news reports showed an increase in economic trade between the two countries.
