The Kremlin has announced today that a meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump is set to take place next week, at a location that both sides have agreed upon “in principle,” although the specific venue remains undisclosed.
The Russian presidency elaborated in a statement that this will mark the first meeting between the two leaders since former U.S. President Joe Biden’s discussions with Putin in Geneva in June 2021. This meeting is particularly noteworthy as it occurs amid Trump’s efforts to facilitate an end to the ongoing Russian military operation in Ukraine.
In this context, Russian presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov remarked, “Based on a proposal from the American side, an agreement in principle has been reached to hold a bilateral meeting in the coming days,” adding that discussions regarding the details are already underway with the American side.
He confirmed that while the location for the meeting has been tentatively agreed upon, it has not been disclosed, but emphasized that next week has been established as the target date.
The announcement regarding the meeting between Putin and Trump follows closely on the heels of U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff’s meeting with the Russian president in Moscow, and comes after Trump reiterated his call for a meeting with Putin, asserting that it is the only viable path toward achieving peace between Moscow and Kyiv.
Read more: U.S. tariffs begin today, impacting European imports and over 60 countries
Tariffs targeting oil imports
The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration are primarily focused on penalizing countries that continue to import oil from Russia, aiming to economically isolate Russia amid its aggression in Ukraine. President Donald Trump has specifically targeted India with an additional 25 percent tariff on goods, raising the total tariffs on India to 50 percent, citing India’s continued purchase and resale of Russian oil as undermining U.S. efforts. This tariff increase is part of a broader executive order aimed at deterring countries from supporting the Russian economy through energy imports, and it applies to goods imported from India into the U.S., effective August 27, 2025. The plan also includes potential similar tariffs on other countries importing Russian oil, determined in coordination by the Secretaries of Commerce, State, and Treasury.
Overview of secondary tariffs
These tariffs are part of what are called “secondary tariffs,” which could impose a 100 percent duty on goods imported from countries still trading with Russia if Russia does not comply with a ceasefire accord. This move is meant to double the cost of imports from those countries, thereby pressuring them to cease their economic support for Russia. The most affected countries by these measures include large U.S. trading partners like India and China. However, these secondary tariffs also carry risks for the U.S. and its allies, potentially increasing consumer prices and import costs within the U.S. economy, contributing to inflation and elevated expenses for American businesses. Analysts have pointed out that such tariffs could have notable economic repercussions domestically due to these higher costs, especially in sectors reliant on imports from India and China.
The tariffs reflect a strategic effort by the Trump administration to use economic tools to influence Russia’s actions in Ukraine by specifically targeting the flow of Russian oil exports and the countries that continue to enable this trade. Alongside diplomatic efforts and the threat of sanctions, the tariffs form a comprehensive pressure campaign intended to bring about a resolution to the conflict.
