The administration of US President Donald Trump is considering easing restrictions on the Russian economy as part of a broader effort to improve relations with Moscow. According to The Atlantic, Washington is discussing a proposal that would link sanctions relief to the release of several political prisoners in Russia. Trump has already approved the initiative.

US officials are also quietly exploring ways to adjust the sanctions regime and restore economic contacts with the Russian side. The proposal remains at an early stage and has yet to take final form.

The initiative goes beyond the prisoner issue. The Atlantic reports that Washington wants to use such an agreement to bring Russia back into broader interaction with the global economy and expand US-Russian dialogue beyond the conflict in Ukraine. The plan also envisions opportunities for deals that could benefit the United States, particularly in the energy and raw materials sectors.

Sources cited by The Atlantic said the strategy was proposed to Trump by his envoy for Eastern Europe, John Coale. He had previously used a similar approach in relations with Belarus, where prisoner releases were accompanied by an easing of US sanctions.

Economic cooperation is also being discussed through other channels. The White House previously told RIA Novosti that Kirill Dmitriev, the Russian president’s special representative for investment and economic cooperation with foreign countries, discussed possible joint energy projects with US officials. Those projects could be pursued after the conflict in Ukraine ends.