On Wednesday, former US President and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump increased pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine. Trump warned of tougher economic measures if Moscow does not agree to end the conflict.
Trump’s warning, posted on Truth Social, comes as he seeks a swift resolution to the ongoing conflict, which he had promised to end before starting his second term. “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,” Trump stated.
Despite expressing admiration for Putin in the past, Trump emphasized that he was “not looking to hurt Russia” but aimed to help by urging an end to the war. “Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” he added.
Russia has faced severe US sanctions since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, with trade significantly reduced. The Biden administration recently imposed additional sanctions on Moscow’s energy sector. However, Trump and his administration believe there are further measures to pressure Putin.
From January to November 2024, the United States imported $2.9 billion in goods from Russia, down from $4.3 billion during the same period in 2023. Top US imports from Russia include fertilizers and precious metals.
This marks Trump’s toughest stance on Putin since returning to the White House, despite concerns that he might pressure Kyiv instead. During a White House press conference on Tuesday, Trump indicated that additional sanctions were likely if Putin did not negotiate. However, he declined to comment on continuing Biden’s policy of sending military aid to Ukraine.
Trump has also announced plans to meet with Putin soon, following their previous summit in Helsinki during his first term. Before his inauguration on Monday, Trump had vowed to end the Ukraine war “within 24 hours,” raising expectations of leveraging aid to force Kyiv into territorial concessions.
Despite his promises, a breakthrough has remained elusive. In unusually critical remarks on Monday, Trump accused Putin of “destroying Russia by not making a deal.” He also mentioned that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had expressed a desire for a peace agreement.
Putin congratulated Trump on his second-term inauguration and expressed openness to dialogue on the Ukraine conflict, hoping for a settlement that ensures “lasting peace.”
Trump has repeatedly praised Putin, whose hyper-masculine style and traditional values have resonated with some US Christian conservatives. US special counsel Robert Mueller and the FBI previously investigated alleged collusion between Russia and Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, which Trump dismissed as the “Russia hoax.” Mueller’s investigation resulted in convictions of six Trump campaign members but found no evidence of criminal cooperation with Russia.
