New sanctions against Russia will still kick in on Friday, the White House said, even as President Donald Trump praised a meeting between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “highly productive” on Wednesday.

President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Moscow on Wednesday ahead of expected talks with the Russian leadership, Russian state media reported.

White House envoy Steve Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow in a last-ditch effort to convince him to make peace in Ukraine or face punishing new economic penalties by Friday.