Steve Witkoff spent three hours in a closed-door meeting with Putin on Wednesday and walked away with absolutely nothing that could please Donald Trump.
The Kremlin spun the meeting as “constructive and useful,” but that’s just Russian for “we didn’t agree on squat.” The meeting ended right before Trump’s sanctions deadline. The pressure was on, but Putin didn’t give an inch.
Trump wanted progress toward a peace deal in Ukraine. Instead, Russia kept firing missiles. Since the last meeting between Witkoff and Putin back in April, Russia has actually ramped up attacks. Cities in Ukraine have been hit by nonstop drone strikes and missile barrages.
Putin keeps stalling, Trump keeps waiting
According to Russian state media TASS, RIA Novosti said, “Putin conveyed some signals to the United States on the Ukrainian issue.
Corresponding signals were also received from President Trump.” But they didn’t say what those signals were. Nothing concrete. Just vague talk and spin. The Kremlin also said it’ll release more info after Witkoff reports back to Trump. So basically, ”we’ll tell you later.” Classic stall tactic.
When Witkoff landed in Moscow, he was met by Russia’s investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev. Kremlin media showed a video of Witkoff shaking Putin’s hand before the talks began. That handshake turned out to be the only visible “progress.”
Trump has been losing his patience for about a month now. In early July, he threatened Russia with new sanctions if they didn’t move toward peace in Ukraine.
“We’re going to see what happens,” he said at the White House. “We’ll make that determination at that time.” That time has passed, and it’s obvious he’s not happy with the result.
Behind closed doors, Trump has been calling Putin’s phone calls “tense,” accusing him of pushing “bullsh*t” about Ukraine. He’s also labeled Russia’s missile strikes “disgusting.” But the threats and insults haven’t made Putin even acknowledge them. Trump didn’t get what he wanted. And so, as usual, he lashed out somewhere else.
Trump turns to India after Putin talks fail
Minutes after learning the meeting flopped, Trump took action, going after India. The White House said it’s adding a 25% tariff on Indian imports. That pushes the total tariff rate to 50%. Trump signed an executive order saying:
“I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil. Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent.”
Trump had already warned India last week that tariffs were coming. He said they’d pay a 25% rate plus a “penalty” for buying weapons and energy from Russia. Until now, nobody knew what that penalty would be.
On Tuesday, he made it clear during an interview on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” He said he’d raise the tariff on India “very substantially over the next 24 hours, because they’re buying Russian oil, they’re fueling the war machine.” He added, “And if they’re going to do that, then I’m not going to be happy.”
For four months, Washington kept teasing a new trade deal with India. Headlines were full of optimism. A deal looked close. Then everything fell apart. Trump turned that trade deal into a battlefield. It all started going downhill on July 30, when Trump accused China of supporting Putin and threatened a “penalty” for everyone involved.
Days later, Indian officials said they would keep buying Russian oil, no matter what Trump said. That was the final straw.
Now India is the new target. Trump’s trade war has a new front line. And it’s not just about economics anymore. It’s about leverage. If Putin won’t listen to Trump, Trump will hurt his customers. But if history tells us anything, Russia is not going to blink first.
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