The United States has decided to postpone the sale of international assets belonging to the Russian oil company Lukoil, aiming to utilize these assets as bargaining chips in ongoing peace discussions about the situation in Ukraine. This move was confirmed by four sources familiar with the negotiations, indicating a strategic shift in how the U.S. wishes to engage with Russia and Ukraine amid the protracted conflict.

On Thursday, the U.S. Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) will extend the deadline for asset agreements from February 28 to April 1, as per a document reviewed by Reuters. This extension indicates the complexities of the negotiations and the significance of Lukoil’s assets. The government officials from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine have reportedly made no progress in their discussions held in Geneva, Abu Dhabi, and Miami, underscoring the stalemate in achieving a peace agreement in the region.

The peace talks involve contentious issues such as the U.S. sanctions against Russia's top oil producer, Rosneft, and its second-largest producer, Lukoil. This suggests that the U.S. is using financial measures as a part of broader diplomatic strategies to influence the outcome of negotiations. The next round of talks appears critical, with the stakes high as both financial and political implications loom over the ongoing discussions surrounding peace in Ukraine.