Putin's delegation paid $250,000 in cash to refuel jets in Alaska amid US sanctions, says Rubio

Putin paid $250,000 in cash for refueling jets

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had to pay nearly $250,000 to refuel three jets while returning from the United States.

When Putin arrived in Alaska, August 15, 2025, for a high-stakes meeting with US President Donald Trump concerning the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, he was welcomed with a red carpet reception.

Despite the cordial welcome, the Russian delegation was required to pay in cash for refueling. Rubio explained that this was a direct consequence of sanctions imposed by Washington on Moscow.

“When the Russians landed in Alaska … they had to offer to pay in cash to refuel their aeroplanes because they can't use our banking system,” Rubio told NBC.

In an interview with NBC News, Rubio said, "Every single sanction that was in place on the day he took over remains, and the impact of all those sanctions remains."

"They face consequences every single day, but the bottom line is that it has not altered the direction of this war. That doesn't mean those sanctions were inappropriate; it means it hasn't altered the outcome of it," he continued.

The Alaska summit concluded without a deal to end the conflict in Ukraine, even though both leaders described the discussions as “productive.” The nearly three-hour meeting resulted in general remarks about progress on unspecified topics but produced no concrete measures toward a ceasefire, a goal Trump had emphasized before the summit.

On Monday, Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and several European leaders to address the critical issue of long-term security assurances for Kyiv. Zelensky affirmed that he was "ready" for direct talks with Putin but made it clear he remained firmly against any proposals involving the surrender of Ukrainian territory.