Russian President Vladimir Putin and White Home envoy Steve Witkoff held “helpful and constructive” talks in Moscow on Wednesday, in accordance with 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 counsel that Wednesday’s assembly was not sufficient to stop U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing these measures on Moscow. “The Russians are wanting to proceed partaking with the USA,” a White Home official stated after the dialogue. However “the secondary sanctions are nonetheless anticipated to be carried out on Friday.”
Russian President Vladimir Putin and White Home envoy Steve Witkoff held “helpful and constructive” talks in Moscow on Wednesday, in accordance with 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 counsel that Wednesday’s assembly was not sufficient to stop U.S. President Donald Trump from imposing these measures on Moscow. “The Russians are wanting to proceed partaking with the USA,” a White Home official stated after the dialogue. However “the secondary sanctions are nonetheless anticipated to be carried out 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 vital that Moscow is starting to really feel the strain of the world, the strain from the USA, the specter of more durable sanctions for persevering with the struggle,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on X on Tuesday following a telephone name with Trump, throughout which the 2 leaders mentioned how U.S. sanctions might injury the Russian financial 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 least 72 individuals in Kyiv alone.
Learn extra in as we speak’s World Transient: U.S. Sanctions on Russia Nonetheless Loom After Putin-Witkoff Assembly.
This publish is a part of FP’s ongoing protection of the Trump administration. Observe alongside right here.
