US President Donald Trump ‘strongly contemplating’ imposing new sanctions on Russia

US President Donald Trump has stated it’s “simpler” to take care of Russia than Ukraine, simply hours after flagging the potential of large-scale sanctions and tariffs in opposition to Russia in a push to get each international locations to barter a peace deal.

In a single day, Russia launched an enormous missile and drone assault on Ukrainian infrastructure.

That got here simply days after the US paused navy assist and intelligence sharing with Ukraine to strain Kyiv to just accept a ceasefire deal.

In a submit on his Reality Social platform on Friday morning, Mr Trump stated he was contemplating contemporary sanctions on Moscow.

“Primarily based on the truth that Russia is totally ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield proper now, I’m strongly contemplating large-scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia till a Stop Fireplace and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” he stated.

He added that the potential sanctions may stay in place till the 2 sides got here to a ceasefire and peace settlement.

The sanctions risk got here as Mr Trump confronted criticism for rising strain on Ukraine to achieve a deal whereas taking part in down and even denying Russia’s duty for beginning the struggle with its invasion three years in the past.

Trump says Russia simpler to take care of

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

Sean Savett, a former spokesperson for the Nationwide Safety Council underneath former US president Joe Biden, described Mr Trump’s feedback concerning sanctions as an “admission of naivety”.

Mr Savett stated that was due to Russia’s in a single day launch of 67 missiles and virtually 200 drones at Ukraine.

At the very least 10 individuals had been injured, in keeping with Ukrainian officers.

In an alternate with reporters within the Oval Workplace after his most up-to-date feedback, Mr Trump shrugged off the notion that Russian President Vladimir Putin was benefiting from the intelligence pause to inflict extra ache on Ukraine.

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

“I am discovering it harder, frankly, to take care of Ukraine. And so they haven’t got the playing cards.

Mr 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.

US Treasury secretary describes Biden’s sanctions as ‘weak’

The US Treasury Division was taking a look at potential sanctions on Russian oil majors and oilfield service corporations, in keeping with an Related Press supply.

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

The previous Biden administration imposed 1000’s of sanctions on Russian companies, individuals, and ships in addition to a worth cap on Russian oil after Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

In its last weeks, the Biden administration hit Moscow with sanctions on Russian power corporations and vessels that shipped its oil, adopted by sanctions on 250 targets.

These measures included contemporary sanctions on virtually 100 crucial Russian entities — together with banks and corporations working within the nation’s power sector — that had been beforehand sanctioned by the US, rising their secondary sanction dangers.

However Mr Bessent known as the Biden administration’s sanctions on Russian power “egregiously weak” and “stemming from worries about upward strain on US power costs”.

“They are going to be rigorously monitored to make sure that they’re reaching particular aims.”

Greater than 20,000 sanctions imposed on Russia since Ukraine invasion

Mr Trump’s feedback about contemplating new sanctions and tariffs on Russia got here days after Reuters reported that his administration was drawing up plans to probably present Russia with sanctions reduction.

These plans included methods to ease sanctions on Russia’s power sector, two sources acquainted with the matter informed Reuters on Friday.

Russia, which was among the many world’s greatest oil producers, was subjected to greater than 20,000 sanctions imposed by the US and its companions after the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The US alone has applied about 6,433 sanctions in opposition to Russia since February 2022.

US sanctions on Russia included measures aimed toward limiting its oil and gasoline revenues, together with a cap of $US60 per barrel on Russia’s oil exports.

ABC/wires