Trump weighs new sanctions on Russia after pausing support for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump stated Friday he’s “strongly contemplating” levying new sanctions and tariffs on Russia for its conflict in opposition to Ukraine, floating the potential of new stress on Moscow simply days after he ordered a pause on U.S. army help and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

Trump, in a publish on his Reality Social platform, stated he was contemplating the motion “primarily based on the truth that Russia is completely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield proper now.”

He added that the potential sanctions might stay in place till the 2 sides come to a ceasefire and peace settlement.

The sanctions menace got here as Trump faces criticism for growing stress on Ukraine to succeed in a deal whereas enjoying down and even denying Russia’s accountability for beginning the conflict with its invasion three years in the past.

“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the desk proper now, earlier than it’s too late,” Trump added in his publish.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated on the Financial Membership of New York on Thursday that the U.S. has saved its sanctions in place on Russia and “won’t hesitate to go all in ought to it present leverage in peace negotiations.”

Joe Biden’s administration over the course of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine imposed hundreds of sanctions on Russian companies, individuals and ships in addition to a value cap on Russian oil, amongst different actions.

Bessent known as Biden’s sanctions on Russian power “egregiously weak” and “stemming from worries about upward stress on U.S. power costs.”

“Per President Trump’s steerage, sanctions shall be used explicitly and aggressively for speedy most affect,” Bessent stated. “They are going to be fastidiously monitored to make sure that they’re reaching particular aims.”

Kevin Hassett, director of the Nationwide Financial Council, instructed reporters Friday there’s nonetheless a “heck of lots” of room to place additional stress on the Russian financial system by way of sanctions.

“President Trump is adamant that we have to get all people to the desk, and we might do this with carrots, and we might do this with sticks,” Hassett stated.

Russia launched in a single day assaults on Ukrainian power amenities with dozens of missiles and drones, officers stated Friday, hobbling the nation’s potential to ship warmth and lightweight to its residents and to energy weapons factories important to its defenses.

The barrage — which additionally pounded residences and wounded at the very least 10 individuals — got here days after the U.S. suspended army support and intelligence to Ukraine to stress it into accepting a peace deal being pushed by the Trump administration.

With out U.S. intelligence, Ukraine’s potential to strike inside Russia and defend itself from bombardment is considerably diminished.

However Trump, in an change with reporters, shrugged off the notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin is profiting from the intelligence pause to inflict extra ache on Ukraine.

“I feel he’s doing what anyone else would,” Trump stated of Putin.

And Trump once more questioned whether or not Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is dedicated to getting a peace settlement to finish the battle. “It might be simpler coping with Russia, which is shocking, as a result of they’ve all of the playing cards, and so they’re bombing the hell out of them proper now,” Trump stated.

Trump is sending Secretary of State Marco Rubio, nationwide safety adviser Mike Waltz and particular envoy Steve Witkoff to Saudi Arabia subsequent week to fulfill with Ukrainian officers.

Trump, days into his second, nonconsecutive White Home time period, stated focusing on Russia’s oil income was the easiest way to get Moscow to finish its practically three-year conflict in opposition to Ukraine. He leaned in on the concept that OPEC+, the alliance of oil producing nations, holds the important thing to ending the conflict by decreasing oil costs.

However that push has been acquired coolly by OPEC+ nations, which embody the oil-rich kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Trump has had a sophisticated historical past with Putin. The Republican president has even raised the investigation into Russian interference within the 2016 presidential election in making the case for why he believes he can belief Putin to not restart his conflict on Ukraine if a truce is reached.

“Putin went by way of a hell of lots with me,” Trump instructed Zelenskyy throughout final week’s contentious Oval Workplace assembly that led to Trump pausing support and intelligence with Ukraine. “He went by way of a phony witch hunt the place they used him and Russia. Russia, Russia, Russia, ever hear of that deal?”

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Related Press author Fatima Hussein contributed reporting.