President Trump has announced that he is considering imposing sanctions on Russia due to the ongoing conflict with Ukraine. Speaking on Friday, he described Russia’s military actions as “absolutely pounding” Ukraine and expressed his intention to implement significant banking sanctions, tariffs, and other measures until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached.
Trump’s comments came through a post on Truth Social, where he urged both Russia and Ukraine to come to the negotiating table immediately. He emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating, “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!”
This announcement follows a statement from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who indicated that the Trump administration is ready to take strong action against Russia. Bessent criticized the Biden administration’s previous sanctions as too weak, especially regarding Russian energy. He assured that the Trump administration would not hesitate to use sanctions aggressively to push for peace.
This is not the first time Trump has imposed sanctions on Russia. In April 2018, his administration sanctioned several Russian oligarchs and officials in response to various geopolitical issues. Additionally, in August 2019, Trump issued an executive order that allowed the Treasury and Commerce Departments to restrict loans and assistance to Russia from international financial institutions.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called for an end to Russian attacks, emphasizing that peace can only be achieved by stopping the aggression. He referred to the recent missile and drone strikes from Russia, which resulted in a significant number of attacks on Ukrainian territory.
As the conflict continues to escalate, the international community is watching closely to see how the situation develops and whether Trump’s proposed sanctions will come into effect.