"Now is the time to stop the killing and for an immediate ceasefire," Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said. "Given President Putin’s refusal to end this senseless war, Treasury is sanctioning Russia’s two largest oil companies that fund the Kremlin’s war machine.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt will brief reporters Thursday afternoon as the government shutdown stretches into a fourth week, after a 12th vote on a stopgap funding bill failed a

U.S. President Donald Trump has done a turnaround on sanctions against Russia, taking aim at Russia's two biggest oil companies and the billions of dollars they reap for Moscow's war against Ukraine.

The Trump administration on Wednesday imposed sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies as it called on Moscow to agree to an immediate ceasefire in the war with Ukraine. The announcement came as President Trump said he had “canceled” an anticipated meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

India and China are reducing Russian oil purchases at Donald Trump's request amid new US sanctions, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed. | Latest News India

President Trump spoke with Russia's Vladimir Putin on Thursday ahead of his face-to-face meeting with Zelenskyy, and the two agreed to meet in Budapest.

Whether or not Turkey scores a coveted F-35 agreement, the decision by Trump to host Erdogan at the White House is itself a victory of sorts for the Turkish leader. Erdogan was held at a distance by the Biden administration over concerns about Turkey’s relationship with Russia as well as Erdogan's record on human rights.

The White House claims India is reducing Russian oil buys at President Trump's urging, a move also reportedly seen with China. Trump is reportedly frustrated by the Ukraine war's duration. However, India denies any such agreement,

Zelenskyy was in Washington to make his case for America’s Tomahawk cruise missiles and other military assets.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said that the White House will be announcing “a substantial pickup in Russia sanctions.”