President Trump had a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Wednesday, right after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent revealed new sanctions against Russia’s major oil exporter.
This action represents the Trump administration’s most significant effort so far to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin into negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine.
During the meeting, Trump discussed his reasons for canceling a planned meeting with Putin and the decision against sending Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. He also mentioned military operations targeting drug cartels in South America and hinted at a potential meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his upcoming trip to Asia.
Here are some key points from the discussion:
Russia sanctions: “The time has come”
The Treasury Department announced on Wednesday afternoon that the two largest oil firms in Russia, Rosneft and Lukoil, would face sanctions.
When asked about this decision, Trump told reporters, “We felt the time was right. We’ve been waiting a long time.”
“Today is a very important day for us,” he added. “This is a tremendous sanction. It’s huge, targeting two of their major oil companies, and we hope it doesn’t last too long. Ideally, we want the war resolved quickly. We discussed various missile options and other considerations, but we’re optimistic that those won’t be necessary.”
Trump has consistently threatened sanctions against Russia if Putin does not move towards peace. Senate Republicans are keen to introduce their own sanctions, though Trump has yet to authorize a vote on that issue.
He expressed hope that Russia would agree to cease hostilities and “go home intact.”
Meeting with President Putin “didn’t seem appropriate to me”
The sanctions announcement came after the Trump administration reversed its decision regarding a second meeting with Putin, which was supposed to take place in Budapest.
The change of heart followed a preparatory call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
On Tuesday, the White House indicated that there were no immediate plans for such a meeting, despite Trump having originally stated it would happen within two weeks.
Trump, standing next to Rutte, said, “I have canceled my meeting with President Putin.” He added, “It didn’t feel right to me. I didn’t think it would lead to the outcomes I needed. So I canceled it, but I do plan to pursue it in the future.”
Following his conversation with Rubio, Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó noted that a meeting is still likely. He pointed out that preparations for the Budapest Peace Summit are ongoing, with timing being the only question left.
Tomahawks’ ‘incredible learning curve’
Trump went into detail about his choice not to send Ukraine Tomahawk missiles. He mentioned that mastering these sophisticated weapons requires about a year of training and emphasized that the U.S. wouldn’t train other nations on their use.
“Many people aren’t aware that it usually takes at least six months, often a year, to learn how to use a Tomahawk. It’s quite complicated; the only way to properly launch one would be for us to do it, and that’s not on the table,” he stated.
“It requires intense training, which is a significant commitment,” he added. “But we’re exercising this weapon capability and have no plans to teach anyone else how to handle it anytime soon.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described a recent meeting with Trump in Washington as “positive,” although he expressed disappointment that Trump did not commit to sending the Tomahawk missiles needed for attacks deep inside Russia.
Zelenskiy noted that Trump’s decision against sending the missiles may have lessened Russia’s willingness to engage in diplomacy to resolve the conflict in Eastern Europe.
Could go to Congress for land-based cartel strike
Trump has mentioned that his administration might seek congressional approval to strike drug cartels operating overland.
“If they come by land, we’re going to hit them very hard. They haven’t faced that yet, but we’re prepared now. We’ll likely brief Congress on our plans,” he said.
The administration recently conducted a military operation against suspected drug smuggling boats in the Caribbean, which reportedly resulted in at least 32 deaths.
Earlier in the day, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced an attack on a suspected drug carrier in the Eastern Pacific, resulting in the deaths of two “narco-terrorists,” marking a significant military action in that area.
Trump has signaled that targeting drug cartels on land is part of his broader strategy to combat drug trafficking into the U.S.
This maritime operation has faced criticism from some Democrats and at least one Republican, Senator Rand Paul, who questioned the legality of the attack.
Trump maintained that his administration has the legal authority to intercept and destroy suspected drug smuggling ships.
“We have the legal framework to carry this out. If we engage on land, we might seek congressional approval, but we are within our rights. It’s a national security matter,” he remarked.
Hopes for “all” agreement in meeting with President Xi
It’s still somewhat uncertain when Trump will meet with Chinese leaders during his next trip to Asia. Nevertheless, he expressed optimism that such a meeting would occur and that they would come to a substantial agreement.
“I think we’re going to find common ground on several fronts,” he stated.
Trump mentioned potential agreements regarding soybeans and farming, as well as nuclear weapons issues.
He characterized China’s recent export restrictions on rare earth minerals as “minimal,” insisting that tariffs hold more weight compared to these restrictions.
China has a significant share of the global market for these minerals, which are crucial for various industries, including technology and defense.
In response to China’s announcement of tighter export restrictions, Trump revealed plans to implement retaliatory tariffs by November 1st and indicated that the administration is considering limits on software exports to China.
Trump is set to embark on his Asia trip this weekend, with stops planned in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea.
