President Trump said Friday he is “strongly considering” imposing sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and permanent peace deal is reached in the war with Ukraine.
In a post on his social media site Truth Social, Trump said he is “strongly considering” what he called “large” sanctions.
“Currently, based on the fact that Russia is absolutely 'hilariously 'hilarious' on the battlefield, I am strongly considering tariffs and tariffs on Russia until we reach a major bank sanctions, sanctions and tariffs on Russia and a final settlement agreement on peace,” Trump wrote. “We'll reach the table right now to Russia and Ukraine before it's too late.”
Such a move would be another shift for Trump's executives in the war in Ukraine. He criticized Ukraine for being invaded by Russia, and spent weeks with the story of President Vladimir Putin of the war, criticising US aid and intelligence sharing to Kiev after last week's tense, oval office meeting with President Volody Mury Zelensky.
Trump and Zelensky smoothed out recent relationships with their post-eruption relationship, and Zelensky left the White House without signing a deal that granted the US revenue from rare earth metal mining.
Trump advocates a mineral trade that considers reimbursements for more than $100 billion in military aid the US has provided to the country to stop Russia. This is important for the US's continued investment in bringing peace to the region. Both Trump and Zelensky show that they are still interested in signing the deal.
But Trump has spoken modestly about Russia's role in the war and ultimately his desire to mediate a peace deal. Russian officials met with Trump Trump officials from Saudi Arabia last month. Russia has shown openness to talks, but has not said whether it will accept a ceasefire or agreement to end the war.
Moscow has given no official indication that it would accept a war, a ceasefire, or ending that it launched three years ago. US officials said Russia has shown openness to ongoing debate.
Speaking from the oval office on Thursday, Trump said that US negotiators have “made a lot of progress with Ukraine over the past few days and a lot of progress with Russia,” but details are elusive.
“I think what happens is that Ukraine wants to make a deal because he doesn't think it has the option,” Trump said. “I also think Russia wants to do business because in certain different ways – only I know, only I know – they have no choice.”
In his post Friday, Trump urged both leaders to “get to the table now before it's too late.”
The Biden administration has imposed numerous sanctions on Moscow, crippling the Russian economy, suffocating funds for its invasion, and has recently targeted the Russian energy sector and the “shadow fleet” of oil tankers.
US and Ukrainian officials confirmed Thursday that Ukraine will send delegations to meet “the military representatives of the country that are ready to ensure security within the framework of ending this war.” He said the meeting is scheduled for Tuesday but did not specify who would attend.
At the meeting next week, Zelensky said Ukrainians will insist on a number of commitments from Russia to test whether they will ultimately reach lasting peace. These requests include the Russian pledge not to attack Ukrainian energy or other private infrastructure. A ceasefire of missiles, bombs and long-range drones. There are no military operations in the Black Sea.
“Ukrainians really want peace, but they have not made the sacrifice to give up on Ukraine,” Zelensky said. “The real question of negotiations is whether Russia can abandon the war.”
Ivan Nechepurenko contributed to a report from Tbilisi, Georgia, Natalya Vasilyeva in Istanbul.
