Washington DC [US]: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has firmly denied a report by POLITICO claiming that discussions are underway within the Trump administration about lifting sanctions on Russia as part of a broader peace deal on Ukraine. Rubio labeled the story as “unequivocally false” and accused the outlet of “journalistic malpractice.”
This is unequivocally false.
— Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 24, 2025
Neither Steve Witkoff nor I have had any conversations about lifting sanctions against Russia as part of a deal with Ukraine.
This is journalistic malpractice. If @POLITICO has an ounce of integrity they will fully retract this piece of fiction. pic.twitter.com/AoYFz7wWLA
In a strongly worded post on X, Rubio stated:
“This is unequivocally false. Neither Steve Witkoff (US Special Envoy to Middle East) nor I have had any conversations about lifting sanctions against Russia as part of a deal with Ukraine. This is journalistic malpractice. If @POLITICO has an ounce of integrity they will fully retract this piece of fiction.”
The POLITICO report, citing unnamed sources, alleged that the White House is debating whether to ease sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 pipeline and potentially other Russian assets in Europe. This is reportedly being considered as part of negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
The Nord Stream 2 pipeline, designed to deliver Russian natural gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea, has long been a focal point of US sanctions. President Donald Trump initiated the sanctions during his first term, which were later waived by President Joe Biden, only to be reimposed following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
According to the report, Steve Witkoff, the US Special Envoy to the Middle East and a former envoy to Moscow under Trump, has been pushing internally to explore sanction relief options. Sources allege that Witkoff has tasked his team with preparing a comprehensive list of US energy-related sanctions imposed on Russia.
Despite damage from a 2022 explosion—still under investigation—that hit both Nord Stream 1 and one of the Nord Stream 2 lines, one of the Nord Stream 2 pipelines remains operational. Some reports have suggested that Ukrainian nationals may have been involved in the blast, though no conclusive findings have been released.
The allegations have stirred controversy in Washington, particularly given the ongoing war and strong bipartisan support for continued pressure on the Kremlin. Rubio’s swift denial underscores the administration’s sensitivity to any perceived softening of its stance on Moscow.