MOSCOW:
President Donald Trump on Wednesday welcomed the talks between his envoy and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Ukraine as “extremely productive”, but US officials said the sanctions would still be imposed on Moscow.
Trump, who had boasted that he could end the conflict within 24 hours of taking up the duties, gave Russia until Friday made progress towards peace or face new sanctions.
US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin about what the Kremlin said was “constructive” conversations two days ahead of the US deadline for Russia.
Trump said in the truth of the social platform that “great progress was made” during the meeting – but a few minutes later a US senior official said “secondary sanctions” are expected to be implemented on Friday.
Three rounds of Russia-Ukraine talks in Constantinople failed to go on a ceasefire, with both sides far away in their demands.
Russia has escalated the attacks of aircraft and rockets against its pre-west neighbor on a high record and has accelerated its progress on the ground.
“There was a fairly useful and constructive discussion,” Putin Hahuf’s assistant told reporters, including AFP, after three hours of meeting.
Putin and Witkoff exchanged “signals” in their positions, Usshakov said, without editing.
The Kremlin released a Putin video shaking hands with Witkoff at the beginning of the meeting.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later said Wednesday that he had spoken by phone with Trump, after Witkoff visited Moscow.
“European leaders were on the call and I am grateful to each of them for their support,” he added to the social media, without saying which leaders were involved in the call.
The White House did not officially describe what action it would take against Russia, but Trump previously threatened to impose “secondary invoices” aimed at Russia’s main trade partners, such as China and India.
On Wednesday, Trump ordered narrow invoices for Indian goods for the ongoing Russian oil market from New Delhi.
The move would aim to stifle Russian exports, but would be in danger of a significant international disorder.
Trump said on Tuesday that he would wait for the outcome of Moscow talks before ordering any financial sanctions.
“We’ll see what’s going on,” he told reporters. “We will do this determination at that time.”
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