US Envoy Meets Putin Amid Tariff Threats

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff met with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, marking his final attempt to bring Russia to the negotiating table for peace. Their discussion lasted for three hours, focusing on conditions for peace just before President Donald Trump’s planned tariffs and sanctions take effect on Friday.

Reports suggest that Putin remains defiant against US economic threats, asserting that Russia can withstand the repercussions of Western sanctions. There’s a belief among sources close to the Kremlin that Putin still sees a path to victory in the ongoing conflict. They noted that he considers the upcoming sanctions as similar to those imposed during former President Joe Biden’s administration.

Trump announced a 10-day deadline for Russia to agree to a peace deal, warning of increased tariffs and sanctions targeting Russian goods producers. Congress may even consider legislation allowing Trump to impose tariffs as high as 500% on countries purchasing Russian oil, gas, or uranium.

While Biden had previously enacted heavy sanctions on Russia, they did not significantly cripple its economy following the invasion that began in February 2022.

In the meantime, NATO is ramping up its support for Ukraine, planning to procure around $1 billion worth of weapons from the US to bolster Ukraine’s defense efforts. Initially, Trump was hesitant about increasing US involvement, but resumed the supply of arms to Ukraine through NATO on July 11 as a measure to pressure Putin.

Russia has demanded that Ukraine recognize territories it has captured as part of any potential peace deal, a request that Ukraine has firmly rejected. This indicates the complexities that remain in reaching an agreement.

Neither the State Department nor the Russian Foreign Ministry responded to requests for comments on the ongoing situation.