Russian President Vladimir Putin and White Home envoy Steve Witkoff held “useful and constructive” talks in Moscow on Wednesday, in response to Kremlin foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov. The roughly three-hour session aimed to safe a last-minute breakthrough to finish the Russia-Ukraine struggle earlier than threatened U.S. sanctions go into impact on Friday.
Nonetheless, officers suggest that Wednesday’s assembly was not sufficient to forestall U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing these measures on Moscow. “The Russians are wanting to proceed participating with the US,” a White Home official mentioned after the dialogue. However “the secondary sanctions are nonetheless anticipated to be applied on Friday.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and White Home envoy Steve Witkoff held “useful and constructive” talks in Moscow on Wednesday, in response to Kremlin foreign-policy aide Yuri Ushakov. The roughly three-hour session aimed to safe a last-minute breakthrough to finish the Russia-Ukraine struggle earlier than threatened U.S. sanctions go into impact on Friday.
Nonetheless, officers suggest that Wednesday’s assembly was not sufficient to forestall U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing these measures on Moscow. “The Russians are wanting to proceed participating with the US,” a White Home official mentioned after the dialogue. However “the secondary sanctions are nonetheless anticipated to be applied on Friday.”
Three weeks in the past, Trump gave Russia 50 days to make progress towards securing a peace take care of Ukraine or else face additional U.S. sanctions. However the U.S. president’s persistence seems to be dwindling, and final week, he shortened that ultimatum to Aug. 8.
“This can be very necessary that Moscow is starting to really feel the strain of the world, the strain from the US, the specter of harder sanctions for persevering with the struggle,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X on Tuesday following a phone call with Trump, throughout which the 2 leaders mentioned how U.S. sanctions may harm the Russian economic system.
Nonetheless, consultants warn that Russia is unlikely to bow to U.S. threats when it feels that it’s successful the struggle. Since Russia and Ukraine resumed direct peace talks in Could, Moscow has performed its heaviest air assaults but, killing at the very least 72 individuals in Kyiv alone.
Learn extra in at this time’s World Temporary: U.S. Sanctions on Russia Still Loom After Putin-Witkoff Meeting.
This submit is a part of FP’s ongoing protection of the Trump administration. Observe alongside here.
