“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED. To Russia and Ukraine,… pic.twitter.com/kwrfbaQw4d
— President Donald J. Trump (@POTUS) March 7, 2025
This marked departure from Trump’s recent rhetoric, in which he suggested Russian President Vladimir Putin was the victim and that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy instigated the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. The war is currently in its fourth year and as things stand, shows no signs of ending anytime soon.In fact, just on Thursday, Trump paused military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv into accepting a ceasefire deal following an explosive Oval Office meeting with Zelenskyy a week earlier, in which Trump and his vice president, JD Vance, berated the Ukrainian president for not being grateful enough to the current US administration.
Trump has faced widespread criticism from across the world — especially Europe — for his stance on Ukraine, including his comment last month that Kyiv, not Russia, was responsible for starting the war.
Also read: Trump warns Hamas of ‘hell to pay’ if hostages aren’t freedTrump’s latest post implies a degree of self-awareness generally not associated with him. The post suggests that Trump wants the world to see him as a dealmaker — a title he’s vocally proud of. One of Trump’s main campaign promises was that he would end the war in Ukraine if elected, and ostensibly siding with either side in this conflict could put him at odds with both his voter base and allies abroad.
Trump’s threat to impose sanctions and tariffs on Russia comes days after Reuters reported that the White House was drawing up a plan to potentially give Russia sanctions relief as part of the administration’s push to end the war and improve diplomatic and economic relations with Moscow.
Russia, one of the world’s biggest oil producers, is subject to wide-ranging sanctions imposed by the United States and partners after its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
US sanctions on Russia include measures to limit its oil and gas revenues, including a cap of $60 per barrel on Russia’s oil exports.
Former President Joe Biden also imposed designations on Russian energy companies and vessels that shipped its oil, including Washington’s toughest measures, on January 10 shortly before leaving office.
— With agency inputs
Also read: ‘Ready for any war’: China warns US after Trump administration’s tariff hike
