Joe Parkinson

This is highly unorthodox and highly controversial.

They're fusing this idea that business should not be something which follows a peace deal, but something which should be integrated into the negotiation itself.

They see the enmeshment of business interests as a way of securing peace, a way of people making money together rather than making war.

Russia, of course, is known across the world for its massive

oil and natural gas and mineral wealth.

And two things I think that the Trump administration see as key to the U.S.

economy, but also key to the next stage of global growth is, of course, energy in the first instance.

And the second is minerals in the form particularly of rare earths.

I think Dmitry clearly understood that.

And I think because he spoke both Wyckoff and the Trump administration's language of business in a way that other Putin officials didn't,

he was able to lay out a buffet of options for how Russia's energy might begin to flow back into Europe particularly and other world markets.

And it seems like that pitch resonated from the beginning.

But you're seeing different categories.

So on the one hand, you've got these individuals that are definitely not household names.

Gentry Beach, who has business interests in a lot of sectors.

On the other hand, you have some of the biggest names in corporate America.

ExxonMobil, our journal colleagues revealed earlier this year, had had secret meetings with Rosneft, which is the biggest Russian state oil and gas company.

The opportunity is so potentially lucrative.

that I think these companies are obviously still interested in seeing what kind of options are available.

Now, this is entirely a play that is dependent on there being a peace deal.