Following the cancellation of his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, U.S. President Donald Trump is now turning to Chinese President Xi Jinping for potential help in resolving the Ukraine war. Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with the lack of tangible results from his previous dialogues with Putin, noting that despite amicable exchanges, progress on peace has been nonexistent.
The White House has confirmed the cancellation of the meeting with Putin, citing the absence of meaningful advancements in peace efforts. Trump indicated his intention to discuss the Ukraine conflict with President Xi Jinping, whom he described as a ‘respected man’ and a ‘very strong leader,’ believing Xi could wield significant influence over Putin. ‘He’s a respected man, a very strong leader. We’ll certainly be talking about Russia and Ukraine,’ Trump stated, ahead of their anticipated meeting in South Korea.
In a parallel move to increase pressure on Russia, the U.S. Treasury has imposed new sanctions on Rosneft and Lukoil, major players in Russia’s oil industry. The objective is to disrupt the Kremlin’s funding for its military operations and to weaken its economy. The Treasury affirmed its dedication to a peaceful conclusion to the war, stressing that Russia’s engagement in good-faith negotiations is essential. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent highlighted that these actions are a direct response to Putin’s continued refusal to end the conflict and that further measures are being considered.
President Trump also shared that India has pledged to discontinue its oil purchases from Russia by the close of the year, following what he described as an ‘absolutely great’ conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This follows a previous assertion by Trump about PM Modi’s promise, which was later the subject of a clarification from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.