Russian President Vladimir Putin was reportedly forced to pay nearly $250,000 (around ₹2.2 crore) in cash to refuel three aircraft during his return from the United States, according to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio.
Putin had arrived in Alaska on August 15 for a high-stakes meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he received a red carpet welcome. However, due to ongoing U.S. sanctions, his delegation was compelled to pay for jet fuel in cash.
“When the Russians landed in Alaska, they were there just to refuel. They had to pay in cash because they can’t use our banking system,” Rubio told the media.
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio emphasized that all sanctions imposed on Russia prior to Putin’s visit remain in effect. “Every single sanction that was in place on the day he took over remains, and the impact of those sanctions continues,” he said. “They face consequences every single day. But while the sanctions haven’t changed the direction of the war, that doesn’t mean they were ineffective—just that they haven’t altered the outcome yet.”
Asked why the U.S. doesn’t impose additional sanctions to force Russia into a ceasefire, Rubio explained that new measures are unlikely to compel Putin. He noted that Russia is already under severe sanctions, which act as consequences for refusing a ceasefire, but added that sanctions often take months or even years to have an impact.
Putin’s delegation stayed in Alaska for about five hours, departing shortly after a joint press conference. While President Donald Trump confirmed that “no deal” had been reached, reports suggested that Russia presented an offer and that Trump encouraged Ukraine to consider it.
The Alaska summit concluded without a formal agreement to end the war in Ukraine. The nearly three-hour discussion produced only vague statements about progress on undisclosed issues, falling short of any concrete steps toward a ceasefire. On Monday, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and several European leaders to discuss long-term security assurances for Kyiv. (Agencies)