New sanctions against Russia will still kick in on Friday, the White House said, even as President Donald Trump praised a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “highly productive” on Wednesday. “The meeting with Russia and Special Envoy Witkoff went well. The Russians are eager to continue engaging with the United States. The secondary sanctions are still expected to be implemented on Friday,” a White House official said. Trump wrote on social media that “great progress was made,” adding that he has already updated some of America’s European allies.
The meeting, which Russian state media said lasted around three hours, took place after a frustrated Trump imposed a deadline on Moscow to agree to a ceasefire or face tough secondary sanctions, hitting countries that buy Russian oil with a 100% tariff.
CNN national security correspondent Kylie Atwood reports, and Omar Jimenez speaks with former US ambassador to Ukraine Steven Pifer. #CNN #News