President Donald Trump is shifting his diplomatic strategy for achieving peace in Ukraine, now looking to Chinese President Xi Jinping for assistance after his planned meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin was abruptly cancelled. Trump conveyed his disappointment with the lack of progress from his discussions with Putin, stating that while the conversations were pleasant, they did not lead to any forward movement on ending the conflict.
The cancellation of the Putin meeting was officially announced by the White House, attributed to the absence of significant developments toward a peace agreement. Trump shared his expectation that President Xi, whom he regards as a ‘respected man’ and a formidable leader, could significantly influence Putin’s decisions regarding the war in Ukraine. ‘We’ll certainly be talking about Russia and Ukraine,’ Trump mentioned, looking forward to his meeting with Xi in South Korea next month.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Treasury has implemented further sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector, specifically hitting Rosneft and Lukoil. These sanctions are intended to cut off crucial funding for Russia’s war machine and to exert pressure on its economy. A Treasury statement emphasized that the United States remains committed to advocating for a peaceful resolution, contingent upon Russia’s good-faith participation in negotiations. Secretary Scott Bessent asserted that the sanctions are a direct consequence of Putin’s ongoing military actions and that the Treasury is prepared to escalate actions if needed.
On a separate note, President Trump also revealed that India has committed to ending its oil purchases from Russia by the end of the year, following a conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This statement comes after earlier reports of a similar commitment made by PM Modi, which prompted clarification from India’s Ministry of External Affairs.