In a bold declaration, Donald Trump has threatened Russia and other unnamed nations with taxes, tariffs, and sanctions if President Vladimir Putin refuses to negotiate an end to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Using his platform on Truth Social, Trump urged Moscow to “settle now” or face severe economic repercussions, stating, “we can do it the easy way, or the hard way.”
The newly re-elected president emphasized the urgency of reaching a deal, warning that without action, he would have “no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States.” He declared, “Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with!”
During his campaign, Trump had pledged to resolve the conflict within 24 hours of assuming office again, though his chosen peace envoy, Keith Kellogg, recently suggested a more realistic timeline of approximately 100 days.
Trump’s comments signal a readiness from Washington to escalate economic sanctions against Russia if a resolution isn’t achieved. He expressed a desire to protect the Russian people, claiming, “I love the Russian people,” while criticizing the current state of the Russian economy. “Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War!” he urged, warning that the situation would only deteriorate further.
In response, Russia’s Deputy U.N. Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy stated that Moscow would need clarification on what Trump considers a “deal” to end the war, emphasizing the importance of addressing the underlying causes of the Ukrainian crisis.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov acknowledged a “window of opportunity” with Trump’s administration, contrasting it with the perceived hopelessness of the previous administration under Joe Biden. Ryabkov noted preparations for potential discussions between Trump and Putin, though no agreements have been finalized.
At the World Economic Forum in Davos, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that any peace deal would require at least 200,000 European peacekeepers to maintain security against renewed Russian aggression. He dismissed any notion of Ukraine significantly reducing its military strength.
Since the conflict began in February 2022, the Biden administration has implemented stringent sanctions against numerous sectors of the Russian economy. Recently, the U.S. Treasury introduced its most severe sanctions yet, targeting key energy producers and vessels involved in evading trade restrictions.
Trump’s strategy of leveraging tariffs to achieve political goals is not new; he has employed similar tactics against Mexico, Canada, and China. However, with U.S. imports from Russia plummeting, the effectiveness of such a strategy remains to be seen. As tensions persist, the international community watches closely for any signs of negotiation or escalation.
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