Trump Warns Putin: End War in Ukraine or Face New Sanctions

Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that he will impose high tariffs and additional sanctions on Russia if the war in Ukraine is not ended soon.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump stated that pushing for a resolution to the war would be a “very big favor” to both Russia and Putin.

He emphasized that if no deal is reached soon, he would have no choice but to escalate economic penalties against Russia, including increased taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on Russian goods sold in the United States and other participating countries.

Trump has previously suggested he could negotiate a settlement to the conflict in Ukraine within a single day, and on Tuesday, he mentioned he would be speaking to Putin “very soon.”

He also indicated that imposing further sanctions could be on the horizon if the Russian president does not engage in negotiations.

The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, has left Moscow in a precarious economic position.

Russia’s territorial gains, however, remain a point of contention, with Putin insisting that Ukraine must recognize these gains for peace talks to progress.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has remained firm on Ukraine’s position of not ceding territory, even though he has hinted that some currently occupied land may be temporarily relinquished.

Zelensky has also emphasized that any peacekeeping force for Ukraine must include US troops to serve as a credible deterrent to Russian aggression.

Despite Trump’s tough rhetoric, the initial reaction in Kyiv suggests that while Ukraine’s leaders may appreciate the strength in his message, what they are truly waiting for are concrete actions, not just words.