Trump Eyes High-Stakes Talks with Putin and Zelensky as New Sanctions Hit Russia

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to meet with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as early as next week — a bold diplomatic move aimed at bringing an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine.

The announcement follows a three-hour meeting in Moscow between U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin. Trump later described the discussions as “highly productive,” claiming that “great progress was made.”

According to sources familiar with the situation, Trump has already informed European allies of his intent to hold separate talks with Putin and Zelensky, followed by a potential trilateral meeting. However, White House officials say such a summit would be difficult to organize on such short notice.

“President Trump wants this brutal war to end,” said Karoline Leavitt, White House Press Secretary. “He’s open to engaging with both leaders.”

Despite these diplomatic efforts, new sanctions against Russia are still set to take effect on Friday, including secondary sanctions and steep tariffs on oil exports. The pressure is part of Trump’s recent ceasefire ultimatum to Moscow, which includes a 100% tariff on oil imports from nations still buying Russian oil.

Russia’s energy exports make up nearly a quarter of its government revenue — meaning the new sanctions could deal a major blow to its ability to fund the war in Ukraine.

After the Moscow meeting, Russian state media called the talks “constructive,” and the Kremlin promised to share more details once Putin’s team delivers a full report to Trump. Meanwhile, Zelensky cautiously welcomed the development, saying:

“The pressure on Russia is working. But the key is to ensure they don’t deceive us in the details — neither us, nor the United States.”

Zelensky and Trump had reportedly spoken the day before the Moscow meeting to align on sanctions and strategy.

In a surprising twist, Trump also slapped a 25% tariff on Indian goods, citing India’s ongoing purchases and resale of Russian oil.

“India is not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil but also reselling it for profit,” Trump wrote online. “They don’t care how many people are being killed in Ukraine.”

Meanwhile, Ukrainian cities continue to suffer deadly attacks. Overnight, six people were killed in Russian airstrikes, including two victims at a recreation center in Zaporizhzhia. Among the 12 wounded were four children.

Another major strike hit a gas station in Novosilske, crippling energy services and leaving hundreds of families without gas. The station is crucial for Ukraine’s energy imports from the U.S. and Azerbaijan.

“It was a deliberate blow to our preparations for the heating season,” Zelensky said. “Absolutely cynical.”

Despite the escalating violence, international support for Ukraine continues to grow. The U.S. has reportedly approved a $200 million military support deal for Kyiv, and NATO allies have pledged over $1 billion to help supply U.S.-made weapons, especially heavy artillery.

As diplomatic moves unfold and pressure mounts, the world watches closely to see if Trump’s proposed talks can bring any breakthrough — or if they’ll be yet another chapter in this long and painful war.