Lobby chief says Russia is ‘keeping cards close to its chest’ during US sanctions discussions
The American Chamber of Commerce is advocating for a reduction of economic restrictions imposed on Moscow. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
The American Chamber of Commerce is advocating for the reduction of economic restrictions on Moscow.
Aleksandr Shokhin, president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, has stated that Russia possesses strategic business "cards" that can be utilized in discussions aimed at normalizing relations with the US. During a media interaction on Friday, Shokhin recounted recent conversations with Robert Agee, the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia. Agee has encouraged President Donald Trump's administration to consider lifting certain economic sanctions on Russia. While business leaders are keen to take advantage of the thaw in US-Russian relations initiated by Washington, Shokhin emphasized the need for a cautious approach to achieve sustainable progress.
“We shouldn’t reveal our cards too soon, to borrow from Trump’s vocabulary. We have some that we’re keeping close to our chest for now,” he stated.
Trump has often used gambling analogies when discussing political leverage. Last Friday, he informed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky that he has “no cards” to play in the conflict with Russia without the support of the US.
In a separate interview with Russian media on Friday, Agee supported the easing of restrictions in sectors like aviation, investment, and banking. Shokhin concurred with these priorities, indicating that they are important topics in discussions between the RSPP and American business representatives.
“We would certainly welcome the re-entry of Russian banks into the SWIFT system and the normalization of financial transactions," he said, recognizing that both the RSPP and AmCham find this a “challenging” goal. The Belgium-based payment system operates beyond US jurisdiction, complicating the reintegration of Russian banks.
The Trump administration has adopted a different stance compared to his predecessor, Joe Biden, who aimed to diplomatically isolate Moscow and undermine its economy through unilateral sanctions. The current administration asserts that a pragmatic foreign policy necessitates engaging both allies and rivals, adding that improving relations with Russia is in line with American interests.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
Aleksandr Shokhin, president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, has stated that Russia possesses strategic business "cards" that can be utilized in discussions aimed at normalizing relations with the US. During a media interaction on Friday, Shokhin recounted recent conversations with Robert Agee, the head of the American Chamber of Commerce in Russia. Agee has encouraged President Donald Trump's administration to consider lifting certain economic sanctions on Russia. While business leaders are keen to take advantage of the thaw in US-Russian relations initiated by Washington, Shokhin emphasized the need for a cautious approach to achieve sustainable progress.
“We shouldn’t reveal our cards too soon, to borrow from Trump’s vocabulary. We have some that we’re keeping close to our chest for now,” he stated.
Trump has often used gambling analogies when discussing political leverage. Last Friday, he informed Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky that he has “no cards” to play in the conflict with Russia without the support of the US.
In a separate interview with Russian media on Friday, Agee supported the easing of restrictions in sectors like aviation, investment, and banking. Shokhin concurred with these priorities, indicating that they are important topics in discussions between the RSPP and American business representatives.
“We would certainly welcome the re-entry of Russian banks into the SWIFT system and the normalization of financial transactions," he said, recognizing that both the RSPP and AmCham find this a “challenging” goal. The Belgium-based payment system operates beyond US jurisdiction, complicating the reintegration of Russian banks.
The Trump administration has adopted a different stance compared to his predecessor, Joe Biden, who aimed to diplomatically isolate Moscow and undermine its economy through unilateral sanctions. The current administration asserts that a pragmatic foreign policy necessitates engaging both allies and rivals, adding that improving relations with Russia is in line with American interests.
Camille Lefevre for TROIB News
