Trump Warns Of High Tariffs And Sanctions On Russia Unless Ukraine War Ends.
In a stern message posted on his social media platform Truth Social, US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose significant tariffs and additional sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not bring an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
Trump’s post on Wednesday highlighted his commitment to ending the war, which he described as doing Putin and Russia a “very big favour” by pushing for a resolution. The President reiterated his previous claims that he could negotiate a settlement to Russia’s invasion, which commenced in February 2022, within a single day.
Despite no immediate response from Moscow, senior Russian officials have indicated there might be a narrow window for cooperation with the new US administration. Putin himself has expressed readiness to negotiate peace, albeit under conditions where Ukraine acknowledges Russian territorial acquisitions – an area amounting to approximately 20% of Ukraine’s land. He has also firmly opposed Ukraine’s potential NATO membership.
From Kyiv’s perspective, any peace deal that involves ceding territory is highly contentious. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has hinted at the possibility of temporarily relinquishing control over some occupied territories as part of a broader strategy towards peace.
During a news conference on Tuesday, Trump suggested that discussions with Putin were imminent, stating, “I would be talking to Putin ‘very soon'” and hinted at the likelihood of further sanctions should there be no negotiation breakthrough.
In his social media update, Trump escalated his rhetoric, warning, “Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don’t make a ‘deal’, and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.” He further opined that the conflict “never would have started if I were President,” advocating for an immediate resolution to avoid the “hard way” of escalating economic penalties.
Trump concluded with a call to action, echoing his well-known slogan, “It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL’.”
The international community watches closely as these statements from Trump could potentially recalibrate the dynamics of the conflict, pressing for diplomacy in a region fraught with tension. However, the effectiveness of these threats in moving Russia towards negotiation remains to be seen.
