Poutine Eases Restrictions For Western Investors Ahead Of His Call With Trump

This day could be a turning point for the war in Ukraine. While Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are set to talk over the phone, each is preparing their ground. If Trump juggles between diplomatic flattery and supplying arms to Zelensky, Putin is playing a different card: that of the economy. He has just allowed certain Western investors to sell their frozen Russian securities, a decision that could disrupt the international financial market.

Putin authorizes the sale of Russian securities to Western investors

While a war between Trump and Putin seemed imaginable, to everyone’s surprise,allowingFranklin Templeton, Jane Street, and GMO to. This is the first since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine. However, these transactions will not be direct:, the New York hedge fund 683 Capital Partners, before being repurchased by Russian entities close to power.

Why such a financial arrangement?: to protect Western sellers from sanctions and to ensure a generous commission for the intermediary.

The securities involved represent, held in “type-C” accounts, frozen since March 2023. These accounts, established by the Russian government, allow for, preventing any withdrawal without the Kremlin’s approval.

This decision, seemingly innocuous, fits into a broader context. On one hand, it allows Russia towhile offering investors a regulated exit. On the other hand, it comes at a strategic moment, just before the call with Trump.

The Kremlin seeks to, sending a signal of openness to international markets. But does this sudden generosity hide a more calculated maneuver?

Negotiation between Putin and Trump: a ceasefire at the price of concessions?

The call between Putin and Trump could well be. Officially, the discussion is about a ceasefire in Ukraine. In reality, the discussion seems to go well beyond that. Trump has already hinted that Ukraine might have to give up some strategic regions to achieve peace.

We will talk about land, power plants… Many things are already being discussed.

But Putin does not give anything away without a counterparty. His main demand? The. A request that divides Washington and worries Europeans. Some fear that it would allow Moscow to rearm in peace.

In the meantime, Trump is trying to negotiate by putting on the table a.

The ongoing negotiations raise several questions: Is Trump willing to trade Ukrainian sovereignty for a tacit pact with the Kremlin? What advantages does he hope to gain from this agreement for the United States? And above all, does Trump’s word have any value?

As one user tweeted:

Any ceasefire agreement negotiated by Trump is not worth the paper it is written on. Just ask the Palestinians.

The shadow of a geopolitical bargaining looms over these negotiations.

The Russian economy under pressure: towards a major crisis?

While these negotiations occupy the diplomatic spheres,. While the Kremlin presents a facade of optimism, several indicators show increasing fragility.

The industrial sector is particularly affected by. A situation that puts pressure on many companies already weakened by international sanctions.

• 20% of manufacturing companies devote more than two-thirds of their profits to repaying their debts;
• More than 50% of mining companies were in deficit in 2024, a first since the 1990s;
• 30% of road carriers face bankruptcy in 2025.

These figures do not deceive. Yet, Russian banks do not seem alarmed. According to economist Sergei Skatov, “if the situation were as catastrophic, they would have had to build up additional reserves to cover losses.” 

In other words, the Kremlin may have more room to maneuver than it appears. But for how long?

The government is relying onbut these solutions have their limits. If financial pressure increases and access to markets tightens further, Russia may have to choose between stabilizing its economy and continuing the war effort.

The situation therefore becomes a real test of the resilience of the Russian economic model under sanctions.

As Putin and Trump prepare to discuss a ceasefire, another battle is playing out behind the scenes: that of controlling investments and financial stability. One thing is certain: Putin supports bitcoin, but there is no question of him following Trump in his idea of making it a national reserve.

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