Trump threatens Russia with sanctions if Ukraine persists

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to impose “high levels” of sanctions on Russia and tariffs on imports from there if the country did not reach an agreement to end its war against Ukraine.

Trump’s warning, made in a social media post on his third day as president, called out Russian President Vladimir Putin by name.

“If we don’t make a ‘deal’, and soon, I have no choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on everything that is sold from Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries” . Trump wrote on Social Truth.

“Let’s let this war, which would never have started if he were president, be over! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better,” wrote Trump.

“It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.’ NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”

Trump had repeatedly said he could end the war in Ukraine within a day if elected to a second non-consecutive term in the White House.

“They are dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I did this – I did it in 24 hours,” he said in May 2023.

That did not happen after his inauguration on Monday.

But Trump’s message to Russia on Wednesday revealed his intention to deploy economic weapons against that country similar to those he has threatened against US allies such as Mexico and Canada if these nations did not bend to their will.

“I am not trying to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and I have always had a very good relationship with President Putin – and this despite the Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX of the radical left,” Trump wrote in Social Truth. “We must never forget that Russia helped us win World War II, losing nearly 60,000,000 lives in the process.”

“All that said, I’m going to do Russia, whose economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous war!” Trump wrote.

“IT’S ONLY GOING WORSE.”

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