NYP learned the US assessment of the value of LUKOIL assets before the transaction

The administration of US President Donald Trump supports the deal on foreign assets of the Russian company LUKOIL, which is expected to bring billions of dollars to the US treasury and “put back into operation” stopped American refineries. This writes The New York Post (NYP), citing a source in the government.

A consortium led by investor Todd Boely, which includes the American Corporation for International Development Finance (DFC), is seeking to acquire fields producing more than 350,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day and covering Asia, Europe, Africa and North America. The consortium also wants to acquire three refineries in Bulgaria, Romania and the Netherlands. At the same time, 350,000 barrels is about the same as the US added to new crude oil production in 2025.

According to the NYP, assets are valued at about $20 billion. According to the DFC, the signing is likely to take place in the next two weeks.

The DFC has never done such a deal. This is unprecedented for this institution, one source told WP. At the same time, the corporation could play a more important role in foreign policy.

The newspaper points out that participation in the UAE-Qatar consortium "raised questions," but officials said international involvement was necessary for LUKOIL to accept the deal.

At the same time, the deal will not allow Russia to make financial profit before the sanctions are lifted, the NYP notes. Instead of payments, the money will remain in international accounts until the restriction is lifted.

The deal, which could ease pressure on the fuel market, focuses more on strengthening the energy supply of U.S. allies and supplying more fuel to the global market, which has become a national security priority for European countries.

LUKOIL announced its intention to sell foreign assets on October 27, 2025 after the imposition of US sanctions. The US restrictions also affected Rosneft.

Press Secretary of the President of Russia Dmitry Peskov called the American sanctions against LUKOIL and Rosneft unfriendly step. “They have really damaged the prospects of resuscitation of our relations,” he said in October 2025. At the same time, Peskov stressed that Moscow remains interested in developing relations with the United States and will continue to act based on its own interests.

LUKOIL announced the conclusion of a deal to sell foreign assets to Carlyle investment company in January 2026. Its perimeter did not include assets in Kazakhstan.

In September, the Financial Times, citing sources, reported that the approval of the deal was delayed, since the administration of Donald Trump has not yet approved it. In its 2025 report, LUKOIL International GmbH indicated that the agreement with Carlyle had expired at the end of July 2026 because the transaction had not received OFAC approval.

In early October, The New York Times, citing eight sources familiar with the negotiations, reported on the discussion of the deal on LUKOIL assets between Russia and the United States in the framework of negotiations on Ukraine. The newspaper called the potential deal "multi-billion dollar.".

Earlier, Reuters reported that the American company Carlyle no longer makes active attempts to acquire foreign assets of LUKOIL.