Trump, who has signalled frustration with Putin in recent weeks and has given the Russian president until Friday to make peace with Ukraine or face tougher sanctions, hailed Witkoff’s visit as highly productive.
But a White House official said the secondary sanctions that Trump has threatened against countries doing business with Russia were still expected to be implemented on Friday.
An executive order introducing an additional 25 per cent tariffs on India for Russian oil imports was signed on Wednesday.
“The pressure on (Russia) works. But the main thing is that they do not deceive us in the details – neither us nor the US,” Zelenskyy said.
Ukraine has repeatedly called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire. Russia, which now controls about a fifth of Ukrainian territory and proceeds with its advances on the eastern front, rejected the idea.
National security advisers from Ukraine and allied nations were to meet soon to work out a “joint stance”, Zelenskyy added.
