Trump Threatens Putin With Sanctions, Tariffs On Russia If Ukraine War Doesn't Come To An End

On Wednesday, President Donald Trump threatened to impose "high levels" of sanctions and tariffs on Russian imports if the country did not reach an agreement to end its nearly three-year-long war against Ukraine.

In a social media post on his third day as president, Trump specifically called out Russian President Vladimir Putin, reported CNBC.

Photo Credit: AP/PTI file photo

"If we don't make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"Let's get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way - and the easy way is always better," he continued.

Trump had previously claimed that he could end the war in Ukraine within a day if elected to a second, non-consecutive term. The war began in February 2022 with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"They're dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I'll have that done - I'll have that done in 24 hours," Trump said in May 2023.

However, this did not materialise after his inauguration on Monday.

In his Wednesday post, Trump made it clear that he was willing to use economic measures against Russia, similar to threats he had made against U.S. allies like Mexico and Canada if they did not comply with his demands.

"I'm not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin - and this despite the Radical Left's Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX," Trump wrote. "We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process."

"That said, I'm going to do Russia, whose economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big favour. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous war!" Trump urged.

"IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE."

Trump's estimate of Russian casualties in World War II was notably higher than expert figures. The National World War II Museum in New Orleans states that the total number of military and civilian losses in the Soviet Union during the war was 24 million.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed in December that Ukraine had lost 43,000 soldiers killed in action, with another 370,000 wounded. He also stated that 198,000 Russian soldiers had been killed, with more than 550,000 wounded.