President Trump said on Friday that he “strongly considered” sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and permanent peace agreement was reached in the war with Ukraine.
Trump said in an article on his social media website that he “strongly considered” what he called “massive” sanctions due to the dangerous state of war (now in his fourth year).
His post was published when Russia unleashed a major sensation against Ukrainian infrastructure on Thursday and Friday. Ukraine’s energy minister, German Galushchenko, said Russian troops launched “massive missile and drone” attacks on the nation’s electricity and gas facilities.
“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely “slamming” Ukraine on the battlefield, I strongly consider large-scale bank sanctions, sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a final settlement agreement of ceasefire and peace,” Trump wrote. “For Russia and Ukraine, it’s too late.”
The new sanctions will be Mr. Trump’s latest shift in the management of war in Ukraine. He spent weeks consistent with President Vladimir Putin’s narrative of war, criticizing Ukraine for its Russian invasion, recently sharing aid to Kiev and intelligence after last week’s tense Oval Office meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky last month.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky spent several days smoothing the relationship after the outbreak, which led to Mr. Zelensky leaving the White House without signing a deal that would allow the United States to earn a portion of its revenue from mining rare earth metals.
Mr. Trump insists on a mineral deal, which he believes is a key to the U.S. providing more than $100 billion in military aid to the country to avoid Russian repayment, which is crucial for the U.S. to continue investing in bringing peace in the region. Both Mr. Trump and Mr. Zelensky said they are still interested in signing the deal.
But Mr. Trump rarely talks about Russia’s role in war and what it ultimately wants to lead to a peace deal. Russian officials met with top Trump officials in Saudi Arabia last month as Russia showed the openness of negotiations, although Russian officials have not said whether to accept a ceasefire or reach a deal to end the war.
Moscow has no public indication that it will accept any truce, ceasefire or end the war launched three years ago. U.S. officials said Russia has shown an openness to continuing discussions.
Speaking at the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said U.S. negotiators “have made great progress over the past few days, made great progress in Ukraine and made a lot of progress in Russia,” but it is elusive in details.
“I think what will happen is that Ukraine wants to make an agreement because I don’t think they have a choice,” Trump said. “I also think Russia wants to make an agreement because in some different way – only I know, only I know different ways – they have no choice.”
Trump urged both leaders to “arrive at the table before it’s too late” in a post on Friday.
The Biden administration has imposed many sanctions on Moscow in an attempt to weaken Russia’s economy and stifle its invasion funds, the most recent “shadow fleet” targeting Russia’s energy sector and its “shadow fleet” tankers.
Ukraine will send delegations with “military representatives of countries that are ready to make greater efforts to secure reliably within the framework of ending the war,” U.S. and Ukrainian officials confirmed Thursday. The meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, but no designated who would attend.
Mr Zelensky said at a meeting next week that the Ukrainians will stick to many of Russia’s commitments to test whether lasting peace can be achieved. These requirements include Russia’s commitment not to attack Ukraine’s energy or other civilian infrastructure; truces for missiles, bombs and long-range drones; and no military operations in the Black Sea.
“The Ukrainians do want peace, but they don’t need to give up on Ukraine,” said Mr. Zelensky. “The real question of any negotiation is whether Russia can give up on the war.”
Ivan Nechepurenko provided reports from Tbilisi, Georgia and Nataliya Vasilyeva in Istanbul.
