Russia doesn’t view sanctions relief as a critical factor in negotiations to end the war and isn’t expecting any significant easing of US penalties, according to a person close to the Kremlin.

Russia could win some relief from U.S. sanctions based on its willingness to negotiate an end to its war in Ukraine, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg Television in an interview on Thursday.

European Union envoys have approved new sanctions against Russia, with the measures set to enter into force next week on the third anniversary of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine