Donald Trump has intensified his pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine, warning of harsher economic measures if Moscow refuses.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated that if a deal isn’t reached soon, he would impose higher taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on Russian exports to the U.S. and other participating nations. He emphasized that he was not seeking to harm Russia but urged Putin to settle the war, claiming it would worsen otherwise.
Trump expressed that the war would not have started if he were still president and advocated for a swift resolution, proposing the "easy way" (a deal) rather than the "hard way." The U.S. already enforces severe sanctions on Russia due to its 2022 invasion of Ukraine, including measures targeting the energy sector.
However, Trump suggested there were additional ways to pressure Putin, despite the steep decline in U.S. imports from Russia, including fertilizers and precious metals.
This tough stance came despite concerns that Trump might push Ukraine to make territorial concessions rather than focusing solely on Moscow. At a press conference, Trump indicated that he might apply further sanctions if Putin does not engage in talks but avoided committing to continuing the massive U.S. military support for Ukraine under President Biden.
Trump’s remarks represent the most critical comments he has made about Putin since his return to the White House. Previously, he had admired Putin’s leadership style, which resonated with some conservative U.S. voters. Trump also claimed that Ukrainian President Zelensky had expressed a desire for a peace agreement. Despite hopes for quick diplomacy, Trump's efforts to secure a resolution have yet to yield significant progress.
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