New sanctions against Russia are still expected to take effect on Friday, according to the White House, despite President Donald Trump describing a meeting between U.S special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “highly productive”, stating he is open to meeting Putin as early as next week.
On social media, Trump wrote that “great progress made” during Wednesday’s meeting and noted that some European allies have already been briefed.
According to multiple sources familiar with the matter, Trump informed European leaders via phone that he intends to meet with Putin soon – potentially next week -followed by a trilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. A European government official confirmed the contents of the call.
A White House official acknowledged Trump’s intent but noted that organizing such meetings on short notice would be challenging due to the diplomatic and logistical preparations required.
“The Russians have expressed interest in meeting with President Trump, and the President is open to engaging with both President Putin and President Zelensky. President Trump wants this brutal war to end”, said White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, in a statement.
On Wednesday, Witkoff and Putin met in Moscow to discuss an end to Russia’s war, though Trump later said that there had not been a “breakthrough” between the two men. He was also cautious when questioned about the timeline for a deal saying he has “been disappointed before with this one”.
The meeting which saw Witkoff visit Russia for the fifth time this year, came after a frustrated Trump imposed a deadline on Moscow, which is due to expire on Friday, to agree ceasefire or face tough secondary sanctions, hitting countries that buy Russian oil with 100% tariff.
Just hours after the meeting, the U.S leader imposed an additional 25% tariff on India as punishment for its imports of Russian oil, according to document posted on White House website.
Zelensky, who spoke with Trump following the Witkoff -Putin meeting, said on Wednesday that:
“It seems that Russia is now more inclined towards (a) ceasefire”.
“The pressure on Russia is working. But the main thing that they do not deceive us in the details Neither us, nor the United States”, the Ukrainian leader said during his nightly video address to the nation.
-9News Nigeria.
