Russia has approached the United States with a request to allow the purchase of Boeing aircraft using frozen government assets, sparking a new wave of discussions in international circles
According to Bloomberg, Moscow seeks permission to buy modern aircraft with funds currently frozen under international sanctions. Based on information received by "European Truth," Russian officials are negotiating with the United States to coordinate the possibility of using frozen funds to purchase Boeing planes. At the same time, sources in Moscow indicate that this demand is not an explicit condition for reaching an agreement to end the war in Ukraine, but it is considered an important step toward easing sanctions in the future. According to a source from the agency, Moscow clearly understands that using frozen assets for aircraft purchases is unrealistic without the lifting of financial restrictions. "We cannot use frozen funds to buy equipment without an appropriate political decision," the interlocutor was quoted as saying. Meanwhile, an expert emphasized that although this step is not a direct condition for stopping the war, it could become part of a broader package of diplomatic initiatives. Bloomberg reports that any decision regarding the approval of Boeing sales is likely to be part of agreements related to the lifting of sanctions and may be included in a package of compromise measures aimed at encouraging Moscow to cease hostilities. The official position of the Biden administration remains cautious: National Security Advisor Brian Higs stressed that the United States will not discuss economic commitments with Russia until a real ceasefire has been documented. "We are not engaging in discussions about lifting sanctions until we see concrete signs of conflict cessation," he stated. Comments regarding this initiative have also been withheld by Boeing and the US Department of State. It is known that recently, the American aerospace giant and official Washington have been avoiding discussions about potentially re-engaging Russia in the passenger aircraft market due to restrictions and sanctions, especially considering the widespread withdrawal of cooperation following the start of the full-scale war in February 2022. At that time, Boeing suspended all operations in Russia, including a large engineering center that was active there. A significant factor is that the prospect of resuming the export of aviation technology to Russia arises amid increasing geopolitical tensions and Russia’s economic isolation. The United States had announced as early as the end of last year that the potential easing of sanctions and the development of closer economic partnerships with Moscow could serve not only as incentives to end the war but also as a means to persuade the Russian leadership toward diplomatic conflict resolution. Recently, diplomatic circles have been discussing possible compromise solutions that could unblock Russia’s economy and reduce international tensions. However, at present, the official stance of Washington remains strict — lifting sanctions and opening the possibility for full-fledged operation of Russian airlines and aircraft manufacturers will only be possible under conditions of an immediate ceasefire and Russia’s fulfillment of other key Western demands. In this context, Russia’s request to buy Boeing aircraft using frozen assets is additional evidence of how deeply the Ukraine-Russia conflict has affected international diplomacy and the economies of both countries. At the same time, this situation illustrates how complex and tangled the relations between Russia and the West are today, and what difficulties lie on the path toward de-escalation. Experts and analysts warn that seeking a compromise from the US and other Western countries is not only a difficult process but also quite risky, as lifting sanctions without guarantees that Moscow will fulfill its commitments could only deepen the international security crisis and foster further escalation. While the world awaits concrete steps toward dismantling frozen economic and diplomatic barriers, prospects for resolving the conflict remain uncertain.