Despite President Donald Trump calling a recent meeting between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin “highly productive,” the White House confirmed that a new round of sanctions against Russia will take effect on Friday as planned.
In a post on social media, Trump said “great progress was made” during Wednesday’s three-hour meeting in Moscow and indicated that several European allies had already been briefed on the developments. He also stated he was open to meeting Putin as early as next week.
Multiple sources familiar with the situation confirmed that Trump has informed European leaders—via phone calls—of his intention to meet both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in separate talks, followed by a potential trilateral meeting. A European government official verified the contents of the discussions.
While the White House acknowledged Trump’s interest in organizing such high-stakes meetings, officials noted that the diplomatic and logistical challenges involved could complicate any plans for next week.
“The Russians have shown interest in engaging with President Trump, and he remains open to meeting both President Putin and President Zelensky. His priority is to end this brutal war,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. She added that the sanctions rollout would proceed as scheduled.
The Putin-Witkoff meeting followed Trump’s ultimatum to Moscow, demanding a ceasefire or face intensified secondary sanctions, including a 100% tariff on oil imports from countries continuing to buy Russian energy. Energy exports account for about 25% of Russia’s government revenue, and Trump’s threat, if carried out, could deal a significant blow to the Kremlin’s war funding.
Russian state media described the meeting as “constructive and useful,” noting that both sides exchanged “signals” on the Ukraine conflict. The Kremlin said further details would be released once Putin receives Witkoff’s full report.
In his nightly address, Zelensky expressed cautious optimism that Russia might now be more receptive to ceasefire negotiations. “The pressure on Russia is having an effect,” he said. “But we must be vigilant—they’ve deceived us before. We can’t allow that again.”
Ahead of Witkoff’s visit to Moscow, Trump reportedly consulted with Zelensky regarding the U.S. sanctions strategy. Footage aired on Russian television showed Putin greeting Witkoff in the Kremlin, where he was received by Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Tensions between Washington and Moscow have escalated further in recent weeks, with Trump openly condemning Russia’s continued aggression in Ukraine. Since Witkoff’s previous meeting with Putin in April, Russian forces have increased drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities. Trump has labeled the attacks “disgusting” and accused Putin of spreading “bullsh*t” during their recent phone conversations.
Despite earlier signals that sanctions could be adjusted depending on the outcome of the Moscow talks, the U.S. government imposed an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods just hours after the meeting. The move came in response to India’s ongoing purchases of Russian oil.
“India is buying huge amounts of Russian oil and reselling it at a profit,” Trump wrote online. “They’re turning a blind eye to the human cost of this war.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to endure deadly strikes. Overnight into Wednesday, a new wave of Russian missile and drone attacks killed at least six people. Among the dead were two civilians at a recreation center in Zaporizhzhia; twelve others were injured, including four children. Zelensky condemned the assault, calling it “senseless cruelty designed to spread fear.”
In another major strike, dozens of drones targeted a gas compressor station in Novosilske near the Romanian border—critical infrastructure for Ukraine’s energy supply and for receiving U.S. and Azerbaijani imports. “Hundreds of families are now without gas,” Zelensky said. “This was a calculated hit on our preparations for the winter heating season.”
As Ukraine battles both physical and economic warfare, it received a boost from international allies. The U.S. State Department has approved a $200 million deal enabling allied nations to purchase advanced weaponry and technical support for Ukraine, including heavy artillery systems. While Washington has not officially commented, the package is part of a broader effort to strengthen Kyiv’s defenses.
On Tuesday, NATO members pledged over $1 billion in additional aid to Ukraine. The package, led by the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, will be used to procure U.S.-made weapons as part of a joint initiative to bolster Ukrainian resistance.
