U.S. President Donald Trump has increased the pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump hinted at introducing tougher economic measures against Russia if a peace agreement is not reached soon.
His warning comes as the Republican leader continues to tout his ability to end the conflict swiftly—a promise he has repeatedly made as part of his vision for a potential second term in office.
“If we don’t make a deal and soon I’ll have no choice but to impose higher taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on anything Russia sells to the United States and other participating countries.” While emphasizing that he’s “not looking to hurt Russia,” Trump noted his historically “good relationship” with Putin. However, he made it clear that his priority is peace, calling for an end to what he described as a “ridiculous war.”
“Russia’s economy is failing, and I’m actually doing President Putin a very big favor by urging him to settle this now,” Trump declared. “Let’s get this war over with. It never would have started if I were president. We can do this the easy way or the hard way—but the easy way is always better. It’s time to make a deal.”
READ ALSO: Neymar in Negotiations to Exit Al-Hilal
Russia has faced severe economic sanctions from the U.S. and its allies since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with trade between the two nations already reduced to a trickle.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, the United States imported $2.9 billion worth of goods from Russia between January and November 2024—down significantly from $4.3 billion during the same period in 2023.
The Biden administration, which preceded Trump’s recent push for diplomacy, had already imposed sweeping sanctions, particularly targeting Russia’s energy sector. But Trump, leveraging his reputation as a dealmaker—cemented by his book The Art of the Deal—believes there are ways to tighten these measures further to pressure Putin into negotiations.
Discover more from Cine critique
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.