The Treasury Department announced the additional U.S. sanctions on Russia, targeting the oil companies Rosneft and Lukoil. Secretary Scott Bessent told reporter earlier that the sanctions would be announced. The Treasury cited the lack of a serious commitment to a peace process to end the war in Ukraine.

According to a European official with knowledge of the meeting, Trump told Zelenskyy that President Putin described the conflict as a “special operation, not even a war.” The claim that Russia is not waging the war at full strength aligns closely with the Russian narrative,

The White House Tuesday said there were “no plans” for President Donald Trump to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin “in the immediate future,” less than a week after Trump said they would meet in Budapest “within two weeks or so” for Ukraine peace talks.

The move came after EU countries on Wednesday approved a 19th package of sanctions on Moscow for its war against Ukraine that included a ban on Russian liquefied natural gas imports.