espite plans for new sanctions against Russia to take effect Friday, the White House confirmed, President Donald Trump described a recent meeting between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “highly productive” and expressed willingness to meet with Putin as soon as next week.
Trump posted on social media that “great progress was made” during the Wednesday meeting and noted that European allies had already been briefed. According to several sources, Trump informed European leaders via phone that he hopes to meet with Putin in the coming days, followed by a three-way summit involving Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. A European official confirmed the content of the calls.
While a senior White House official acknowledged Trump’s intent, they noted that organizing such high-level meetings on short notice would be difficult due to the required diplomatic and logistical planning.
“The Russians have indicated interest in a meeting with President Trump, and he’s open to sitting down with both President Putin and President Zelensky. His goal is to help bring this brutal war to an end,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. Another official confirmed that secondary sanctions targeting Russia will proceed as scheduled on Friday.
The three-hour Witkoff-Putin discussion followed Trump’s recent ultimatum to Moscow: accept a ceasefire or face harsher penalties, including a 100% tariff on oil imports from countries still buying Russian crude.
Energy exports account for about 25% of Russia’s government revenue, making reduced demand a serious threat to its military funding.
Russian state media described the Moscow meeting as “constructive,” noting that both sides exchanged strategic signals regarding the war in Ukraine. The Kremlin said further details will be shared after Witkoff submits his report to Trump.
Following the talks, Zelensky said he believes Russia might be more receptive to a ceasefire now.
“The pressure on Russia is having an effect. But we must be cautious not to let them trick us—nor the U.S.—in the details,” Zelensky said during his nightly address.
Trump had also spoken with Zelensky the day before the Moscow meeting to coordinate sanctions strategy.
Witkoff was received in Moscow by Russian investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev, and Kremlin footage showed him shaking hands with Putin before the talks began.
Frustrated with the continuing Russian offensive, Trump has grown increasingly critical. Since the previous Witkoff-Putin meeting in April, Russia has intensified missile and drone strikes across Ukraine.
Trump has condemned the attacks as “disgusting” and has accused Putin of spreading “bullsh*t” during heated phone calls.
Before Wednesday’s meeting, Trump said any further sanctions would depend on the results. But just hours afterward, the U.S. imposed a new 25% tariff on Indian goods in retaliation for India’s ongoing purchase of Russian oil.
“India is not only buying huge amounts of Russian oil but also reselling it for profit. They don’t care how many people are dying in Ukraine,” Trump posted online.
Meanwhile, Ukraine endured another deadly wave of Russian strikes overnight into Wednesday.
At least six people were killed, including two in a strike on a Zaporizhzhia recreation center that also injured 12—four of them children. Zelensky condemned the attack, calling it senseless and a form of “terror aimed at spreading fear.”
In another incident, dozens of drones hit a key gas compressor station in Novosilske, near the Romanian border. The site is vital to Ukraine’s energy infrastructure and serves as a key point for U.S. and Azerbaijani energy imports.
“Hundreds of families are now without gas,” said Zelensky. “This was a deliberate attempt to sabotage our preparations for the heating season—absolutely cynical, like every strike on our energy infrastructure.”
Meanwhile, Ukraine announced that the U.S. State Department had approved a $200 million deal allowing allies to acquire heavy weaponry and technical support for Kyiv. The U.S. has not yet issued a formal statement on the deal.
On Tuesday, Zelensky welcomed pledges totaling over $1 billion from NATO allies. The package, part of a joint initiative led by the Netherlands, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden, will fund the purchase of American-made weapons for Ukraine.
