United States President, Donald Trump, has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of imposing severe tariffs and additional sanctions on Russia if the conflict in Ukraine persists.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump characterized his pursuit of peace as a “very big favour” to Russia and its president. He reiterated his confidence in swiftly resolving Russia’s full-scale invasion, hinting it could be done within a day, stressing the urgency to resolve the conflict dating back to 2014.
While Russia has not officially replied to Trump’s statements, some senior officials suggested the potential for talks with a prospective new US administration. Putin has indicated willingness for negotiations but demands that Ukraine acknowledge Russia’s territorial gains, covering approximately 20% of Ukrainian land, and firmly opposes Ukraine’s NATO aspirations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asserted Ukraine’s position not to permanently surrender any territory but acknowledged the temporary release of some occupied areas.
Trump disclosed plans to engage in talks with Putin soon and implied further sanctions if Putin resisted negotiations. However, his subsequent post on Truth Social took a tougher stance:
“I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR,” Trump emphasized. “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 stressed the urgency, stating, “Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better. It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.'”
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, mentioned that Moscow needed clarity on Trump’s terms for any deal. Zelensky reinforced the necessity of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine involving US troops to deter Russia effectively.
At the World Economic Forum, Zelensky estimated a requirement of at least 200,000 peacekeepers, affirming the indispensability of US involvement. He told Bloomberg, “It can’t be without the United States… Even if some European friends think it can be, no it will not be.”
Trump’s firm rhetoric has evoked mixed reactions in Kyiv, with some Ukrainians cautiously optimistic about the approach but preferring tangible actions over mere words.
Online responses largely dismissed additional sanctions as insufficient, advocating for a more decisive stance.