Russian President Vladimir Putin had to pay nearly about Rs 2.2 crore in cash to refuel three jets while returning from the United States. This information was recently revealed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Putin landed in Alaska on August 15 for a summit with US President Donald Trump. Notably, sanctions against Russia forced his delegation to pay for jet fuel in cash.
“When the Russians landed in Alaska, they were there to refuel. They had to offer to pay in cash because they can’t use our banking system,” Rubio told NBC.
He said that all sanctions imposed on Russia remain in place and continue to have an impact. “They face consequences every single day, but the bottom line is that it has not altered the direction of this war,” Rubio said. He added that sanctions were not inappropriate but admitted they have not yet changed the outcome in Ukraine.
Putin’s stayed in Alaska for about five hours before leaving after a joint press conference. Trump confirmed that “no deal” was reached during the summit, though reports suggest Russia made an offer that Trump encouraged Ukraine to consider.
The nearly three-hour meeting ended without a breakthrough on ending the war in Ukraine. Both leaders spoke of “progress” but did not announce any concrete steps toward a ceasefire.
When asked why the US doesn’t impose tougher sanctions to pressure Russia, Rubio said he doubted they would work immediately. “Sanctions take months and sometimes years to bite,” he said. According to Rubio, Moscow is already under severe restrictions, and additional measures may not force Putin to agree to peace.
Shivam Verma is a journalist with over three years of experience in digital newsrooms. He currently works at NewsX, having previously worked for Firstpost and DNA India. A postgraduate diploma holder in Integrated Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Shivam focuses on international affairs, diplomacy, defence, and politics. Beyond the newsroom, he is passionate about football—both playing and watching—and enjoys travelling to explore new places and cuisines.
