On Friday, former President Donald Trump announced plans to increase pressure on Russia until it agrees to a ceasefire and a peace deal with Ukraine.
In a Truth Social post, Trump warned of imposing significant banking sanctions, tariffs, and other penalties on Russia due to its ongoing assault on Ukraine. He urged both nations to negotiate immediately, stating, “Get to the table right now, before it is too late.”
The Biden administration had previously imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine three years ago.
Trump has faced criticism for his approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin, with detractors accusing him of being too lenient. He has also repeatedly and falsely claimed that Ukraine initiated the war.
Later on Friday, while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump was asked if he still believed Putin wanted peace. He responded, “I believe him,” but expressed frustration with Ukraine, stating, “They don’t have the cards.”
His comments came just hours after Russia launched a large-scale attack on Ukraine, deploying 261 missiles and drones that targeted key energy and gas infrastructure. Additionally, the Trump administration paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine this week, following a heated dispute between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office. Zelenskyy challenged Trump and Vance, emphasizing that Putin had broken negotiations and continued harming Ukraine.
When asked whether Putin was exploiting the U.S. decision to halt aid, Trump remarked, “I think he’s doing what anyone else would do. He’s hitting them harder. He wants to get it ended. I think Ukraine wants to get it ended, but I don’t know.” He reiterated that the war should not have started in the first place.
