Sanctions Expected Friday After Putin-Witkoff Meeting: US Official Says

U.S. Sanctions on Russia's Trading Partners Expected to Take Effect

A senior U.S. official revealed that sanctions targeting Russia’s key trading partners are anticipated to be implemented on Friday. This development follows a meeting between President Donald Trump’s special mission envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The talks took place in Moscow and marked their fifth meeting since Trump returned to the White House.

Trump described the meeting as “highly productive” and claimed that “great progress” was made. According to the official, the discussion lasted approximately three hours and went well. The official added that the Russians are eager to continue engaging with the United States, even as the secondary sanctions are expected to take effect on Friday.

In mid-July, Trump had warned that Russia could face “severe” tariffs if it did not agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine within two months. At that time, he announced that a 100 percent “secondary” tariff would be imposed on countries that conduct business with the Kremlin, including those that purchase Russian oil and gas. The deadline for these actions was later moved to Friday, though Trump expressed uncertainty about whether the sanctions would significantly impact the Russian economy.

“I don’t know that sanctions bother him [Putin]. You know? They know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions, and tariffs and everything else. I don’t know if that has any effect. But we’re going to do it,” Trump stated on July 31.

The president’s social media post about the Putin-Witkoff meeting did not address the issue of sanctions or tariffs. Instead, he mentioned updating some of his European allies and emphasized the need for an end to the war. He wrote, “Everyone agrees this War must come to a close, and we will work towards that in the days and weeks to come.”

In addition to the potential sanctions on Russia, Trump signed an executive order increasing tariffs on India by 25 percent due to its purchases of Russian oil. The new import tax now stands at 50 percent and is set to go into effect in three weeks. Trump criticized India during a Tuesday interview with CNBC, stating that the country was “fueling the war machine.” However, India has pushed back, arguing that buying Russian oil is a “necessity” to stabilize energy costs.

Legislative Efforts and International Reactions

Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) have been leading efforts to pass a major sanctions bill against Russia. The legislation, which has over 85 co-sponsors in the Senate, would impose a 500 percent tariff on imports from nations that buy Russian oil, gas, and uranium. Despite the bipartisan support, the senators left for the August recess without advancing the bill.

Blumenthal emphasized the importance of imposing “bone-crushing sanctions” to stop Russia’s war machine. He said, “We propose in our bill 500 percent. If it’s 250 percent, I could live with it. Even if it’s 100 percent, possibly. But you ought to impose bone-crushing sanctions that will stop them from fueling Russia’s war machine.”

Meanwhile, Putin’s envoy for investment and economic cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, described the meeting with Witkoff as “constructive.” He noted that the U.S.-Russia dialogue would continue, calling it “critical for global security and peace.” According to Russian state media, Putin’s foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov mentioned that signals were exchanged regarding the Ukrainian issue.

Pressure on Russia and Calls for Ceasefire

Trump has repeatedly called for an end to the nearly three-and-a-half-year conflict in Eastern Europe. In recent weeks, he has expressed frustration with Putin, demanding that the Russian leader halt attacks, particularly on civilian areas.

On the night of the meeting, Russia’s military struck a recreational center in the Zaporizhzhia region, resulting in at least two confirmed deaths. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack, stating that the Kremlin would only seek to end the war when it feels adequate pressure.

Zelensky, who spoke to Trump on Tuesday, emphasized the importance of strengthening the levers of the United States, Europe, and the G7 to ensure a ceasefire. He said, “No matter what the Kremlin says, they will only genuinely seek to end the war once they feel adequate pressure. And right now, it is very important to strengthen all the levers in the arsenal of the United States, Europe, and the G7 so that a ceasefire truly comes into effect immediately.”