US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened new banking sanctions, tariffs, and other measures against Russia, citing its intensified attacks on Ukraine. His remarks come after his administration halted US military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv, a move criticized as favoring Moscow.
“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He urged both sides to negotiate immediately. “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” he added.
Trump’s statement followed major Russian drone and missile strikes on Ukraine’s energy grid. Days earlier, he and Vice President JD Vance publicly rebuked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of lacking gratitude for US military support. The US has since voted alongside Russia at the UN, diverging from European allies by not explicitly supporting Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Trump has also faced backlash for a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a potential shift in US-Russia relations and a rollback of sanctions imposed under President Joe Biden.