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(NewsNation) — Special envoy Steve Witkoff was successful Moscow connected Wednesday to clasp talks with President Vladimir Putin, arsenic clip runs retired connected President Donald Trump's deadline to scope a peace deal with Ukraine.
If Russia fails to scope a ceasefire by Friday, the White House has threatened “severe tariffs” and different economical penalties targeting countries buying Russian oil.
The White House did not instantly supply details of the meeting, but it marked Wiktoff's 5th sojourn to Moscow this twelvemonth — and was possibly the astir critical.
Russia strikes Ukraine powerfulness grid, state facilities
Growing progressively frustrated with Putin, Trump has urged Russia for months to standard backmost strikes connected civilian areas of Ukraine. Despite those calls, Russian attacks person intensified.
Overnight Wednesday, Russian forces deed a recreational halfway successful Ukraine’s confederate Zaporizhzhia region, sidesplitting 2 radical and injuring 12, including 2 children, determination Gov. Ivan Fedorov said.
Russian forces launched astatine slightest 4 strikes connected the country and initially attacked with powerful glide bombs.
“There is zero subject consciousness successful this strike. Only cruelty to intimidate,” said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, successful a societal media post.
Russia besides struck the Ukrainian powerfulness grid and heating state facilities, Zelenskyy said, arsenic Ukraine makes preparations for winter.
Trump threatens sanctions on Russian oil
The Trump medication has warned that without advancement by Friday, it volition enforce terrible economical sanctions, including imaginable secondary tariffs targeting countries that proceed to commercialized with Russia.
"The president is not blessed with Mr. Putin and Russia, but helium remains committed to diplomatic solutions," said State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce. "We've besides seen a remark, possibly a reflection of imaginable secondary sanctions regarding the merchantability of oil, countries that are buying Russian oil, and that has been openly discussed by the president."
The Kremlin acknowledged the tension, arsenic spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told the Russian TASS authorities quality agency, "There is, of course, inertia successful this process. It takes clip for efforts to bring bilateral relations backmost onto a mean track."
However, successful Ukraine, fewer are hopeful the gathering volition pb to existent change. Many judge Russia has nary existent involvement successful lasting peace.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
