During a press briefing at the White House on Sunday, when questioned about advancing to the "next stage" of measures against Russia, Donald Trump replied, "Yes, I am." However, the U.S. president did not clarify whether he fully supported such a move or what this next stage might involve. The White House had not responded by Sunday evening to inquiries about what actions Trump was considering. He mentioned that "several European leaders are visiting the U.S. individually on Monday or Tuesday" and that he would soon speak with Vladimir Putin.
On the same day, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated that the U.S. and the EU might consider imposing "secondary trade measures on nations purchasing Russian oil," potentially straining Russia's economy and compelling Putin to negotiate. China remains a significant importer of Russian energy. Trump recently imposed a 50% tariff on Indian products—officially due to India's imports of Russian oil, though reports suggest additional tensions, including India's refusal to nominate him for a Nobel Peace Prize.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in an interview with CuriosityNews, criticized Trump for accommodating Putin by hosting him in Alaska. "It’s unfortunate... Putin refuses to meet with me but is eager to engage with the U.S. president to signal his influence," Zelenskyy said. When asked about Putin’s condition that they meet in Moscow, the Ukrainian president dismissed the idea, responding, "He should come to Kyiv." Zelenskyy added, "I won’t visit Moscow while my country endures daily missile strikes—he knows this." He accused Putin of using this demand to delay talks, stating he was open to discussions—bilateral or trilateral—but not in Russia.
Zelenskyy also called for a decisive U.S. reaction to Russia’s unprecedented assault on Ukraine, which claimed lives, including a mother and child, and damaged a major government building in Kyiv for the first time. "A robust international response to today’s attack is crucial," he emphasized. The U.S. special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, noted that the Russian strike did not suggest a willingness to seek a diplomatic resolution.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, officials reported a teenage girl wounded by mortar fire in Kupyansk, Kharkiv region, and a woman injured in a drone strike on Sumy.
Ukraine’s military announced an overnight operation targeting the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, causing significant fire damage. The strike aligns with efforts to disrupt Russia's energy sector.
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