Donald Trump threatened Russia with “large -scale” additional sanctions and prices, while the American president moves towards pressure on Moscow in order to negotiate a peace agreement in Ukraine.
AssetFriday, the comments on Friday when tensions supported with the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy following a public confrontation at the White House last week, which led the United States to suspend military aid and intelligence support in kyiv.
US and Ukrainian officials are expected to meet next week in Saudi Arabia for conferences. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will direct the American delegation.
“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely` `battle” on the battlefield at the moment, I firmly envisage large-scale banking sanctions, sanctions and prices on Russia until a Cessor contract and a final peace settlement agreement is concluded, “Trump wrote on his social truth platform.
“In Russia and Ukraine, arrive at the table now, before it is too late. Thank you !!! “He added.
Trump faced criticism from the American allies as well as national legislators, including certain Republicans, for his clashes with Zelenskyy. Concerns increase that the White House gave all the lever effect to Russia Even before direct discussions start between Moscow and Kyiv.
Friday, in the oval office, Trump returned to more friendly rhetoric towards Moscow.
“I find it more difficult, frankly, to face Ukraine (which Russia),” said the president. “I find that in terms of obtaining a final settlement, it can be easier to deal with Russia, which is surprising, because they have all the cards, and they bomb at the moment.”
However, he said that his social post of truth was “a very strong declaration” in Moscow saying that he “cannot” continue his intense bombardment of Ukraine.
Trump said he didn't think Russian President Vladimir Putin was taking advantage of Washington's interrupted intelligence sharing in kyiv and “rather what someone else would do.”
“I think that (Putin) struck (Ukraine) stronger than he struck them. And I think everyone in this position would probably do it right now. He wants to finish it, “he said.
Despite Moscow's bombing campaign, Trump said that he did not want to continue to provide Kyiv with air defenses because “I should know that they wanted to settle. I don't know they want to settle.
Trump added that before thinking of American security guarantees for Ukraine, he wants war ruler. “Ukraine must get on the ball and do a job,” he said.
US officials had previously threatened with sanctions against Russia in order to push Putin to the negotiating table, but Trump instilled this message to this message on Friday.
The White House did not offer any details of the sanctions and prices threatened over Russia.
On Friday, Kevin Hassett, director of the national economic council, told journalists that “there are many things that remain, it is certain” to sanction “but. . . Let's see how it goes ”.
Russia remains under radical sanctions imposed by former president Joe Biden, especially in his financial, defense and energy sectors. The United States has also targeted the best Russian and oligarch business leaders with sanctions.
The sanctions reduced Russia's trade surplus by more than half, by $ 337 billion in 2022, the first year of the war, at only $ 151 billion last year, said Alexandra Prokopenko, member of Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center in Berlin.
The most painful measures were the sanctions against oil exports, which forced Russian companies to sell at reduced prices while increasing their costs of logistics and financial, and financial sanctions that have created bulky obstacles for companies in the country making international transactions, as well as sanctions in its airline.
The radical approach adopted by the Biden administration meant that Trump can do relatively little to increase the pressure, said Prokopenko. “There are no more Bazooka sanctions and the United States cannot inflict real pain,” she added.
But Trump officials say Biden's sanctions were ineffective, in particular with regard to the very important energy sector of Russia.
“A major factor that allowed continuous funding for the Russian war machine was the Flagant sanctions for the Biden administration, with Russian energy,” SCOTT BESSENT, US Treasury Secretary on Thursday.
He suggested that the Biden administration had retained more serious sanctions due to “concerns about upward pressure on American energy prices for an electoral season”.
“What was the interest of substantial American military and financial support in the past three years, without supporting proportional and complete sanction?” He asked.
The White House previously suspended the possibility of softening the sanctions against Russia if it reaches a peace agreement with Ukraine, and officials have even highlighted the commercial opportunities for American investors in the country in the event of competition.
Higher prices on Russian imports will have a limited impact since the country's trade with the United States has collapsed in recent years. According to the office of the American commercial representative, imports of goods from Russia amounted to $ 3 billion in 2024.
