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Donald Trump pursued various business ventures in Russia over several decades, though none culminated in completed projects. Notable endeavors include:
1987: Initial Exploration
Trump visited Moscow to explore developing a hotel, invited by Ambassador Yuri Dubinin, whom he had met in New York the previous year.
1996: Residential Development Proposal
In partnership with Liggett-Ducat, Trump planned an upscale residential development in Moscow. He commissioned architect Ted Liebman for the project and visited Moscow with businessman Howard Lorber to scout potential properties for skyscrapers and hotels. Despite these efforts, the development did not materialize.
2005–2008: Collaboration with Bayrock Group
Trump collaborated with the Bayrock Group, co-founded by Tevfik Arif and including Russian immigrant Felix Sater. They explored building a Trump Tower along the Moscow River, with letters of intent and analyses of square footage underway. Trump’s children, Donald Jr. and Ivanka, traveled to Moscow during this period to meet potential partners. However, these plans did not come to fruition.
2006–2008: Trademark Applications
Trump’s company applied for several trademarks in Russia, including Trump Tower and Trump International Hotel and Tower, aiming for future real estate developments.
2015–2016: Trump Tower Moscow Proposal
Efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow continued into June 2016, while Trump was securing the Republican nomination for the presidential election. Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, later admitted to lying to Congress about the timeline of these negotiations, acknowledging they extended into mid-2016.
Despite these numerous initiatives, none resulted in a completed Trump-branded property in Russia. However, individual Russians have invested in Trump properties elsewhere, and following Trump’s bankruptcies in the 1990s, he borrowed money from Russian sources. Both Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump have indicated that Russia was an important source of funding for the Trump businesses.
Sources
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