Trump heralds "great progress" with Russia, but imposes first penalties for invasion
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Witkoff and Putin meet in Moscow. Photo: Gavril Grigorov/Pool via Getty
President Trump imposed penalties over Russia's invasion of Ukraine for the first time on Wednesday, while also striking an optimistic note about the potential for progress.
Split screen: Shortly after White House envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin on Wednesday, President Trump signed an order doubling tariffs on India to 50% over its purchases of Russian oil and paving the way for similar penalties for other countries.
- But hours later he posted that there had been "great progress" made in the Putin-Witkoff meeting, and that further work toward ending the war would take place "in the days and weeks to come."
Driving the news: With the India tariffs, Trump jumped the gun on his ceasefire-or-sanctions deadline for Putin, which was supposed to expire on Friday.
- Trump said the 50% tariffs would be effective August 27, and that other countries could face tariffs if they keep buying Russian oil.
- He didn't say whether China — Russia's other top customer — would face a similar penalty to India.
- New Delhi has said it won't cut off supplies of Russian oil, and accused Western countries of hypocrisy over their own economic ties with Russia.
Yes, but: Trump's Truth Social post later on Wednesday was as optimistic as he has sounded about the conflict in months. It's not yet clear what Putin told Witkoff that Trump found so encouraging.
- Putin's foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters in Moscow that the meeting was "useful and constructive" and that Putin had "transmitted some signals on the Ukrainian issue."
- A White House official said the three-hour meeting in Moscow "went well," adding: "The Russians are eager to continue engaging with the United States. The secondary sanctions are still expected to be implemented on Friday."
- Trump also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky later on Wednesday for their second call this week, a source familiar tells Axios, with European leaders also joining the call.
- "Our joint position with our partners is absolutely clear — the war must end. And it must be done honestly," Zelensky wrote after the call.
Catch up quick: Three weeks ago, Trump said he was giving Putin a 50-day deadline to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine.
- The ultimatum came after Trump became convinced the Russian president wasn't negotiating in good faith. Last week, Trump shortened the deadline for the same reason.
- He also exchanged nuclear bluster with former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, in a sign of how far U.S.-Russia relations have fallen despite Trump's desire to improve them after taking office.
What's next: Following Trump's order on Wednesday, the White House said: "The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State, Secretary of the Treasury, and other senior officials, will determine whether other countries directly or indirectly import Russian Federation oil and recommend further actions to the President as needed."
This story was updated following Trump's executive order.
