KEY POINTS
- Trump hints at imposing more sanctions on Russia if Putin refuses to end Ukraine conflict.
- The US President expresses his intent to speak with both Zelenskyy and Putin soon.
- Trump says he had urged Chinese leader Xi to use its influence to help end the conflict.
- Trump’s administration is considering sending additional weapons to Ukraine.
- Putin is ready to negotiate and emphasises the need for a lasting peace that respects all parties’ legitimate interests.
WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to make a deal to end the Ukraine war “now” or face high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions.
“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 said on his Truth Social network.
Trump also said he was not looking to hurt Russia, asserting that he “loved” the Russian people and had a great relationship with Putin.
“We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process. All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” he said.
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. 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. It’s time to “MAKE A DEAL.” NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!,” Trump posted on his Truth Social network.
On Tuesday, Trump indicated he would hit Russia with additional sanctions if Putin refuses to negotiate a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
“Sounds likely,” Trump told reporters at the White House, when asked if the United States would apply additional sanctions on Moscow if the Russian president did not come to the table.
Trump also restated his intention to speak with Putin in the near term, without providing a timeframe.
“We’re talking to [Ukrainian leader Volodymyr] Zelenskiy. We’re going to be talking with President Putin very soon. We’re going to look at it.”
Referring to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said he urged him in a call to help end the Ukraine conflict.
“He’s not done very much on that. He’s got a lot of…power, like we have a lot of power. I said, ‘You ought to get it settled.’ We did discuss it,” Trump said.
Trump also said his team was looking at the possibility of sending additional weapons to Ukraine. During his presidential campaign, Trump spoke out vigorously against the level of aid provided by President Joe Biden’s administration.
Prior to his inauguration on Monday, Trump vowed to end the Ukraine war immediately upon taking office, raising expectations he would leverage aid to force Kyiv to make concessions to Russia.
However, Trump had at times said he was open to the idea of a lend-lease program that would see Ukraine pay back the United States for weapons shipments over time.
He urged Putin to strike a deal to end the nearly three-year-long war, warning of dire consequences for Russia if the conflict continues.
In unusually critical remarks of Putin, Trump said that the Russian president “should make a deal.” “I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal.”
The US president also expressed his willingness to meet Putin, recalling their past summit during his first term. “I got along with him great. I would hope he wants to make a deal,” Trump added.
Meanwhile, Putin indicated his readiness for dialogue with the new US administration, stating on Monday that Russia remains open to negotiations on the Ukrainian conflict.
In televised remarks, Putin emphasised the need for a sustainable resolution. “As for the settlement of the situation itself, I want to emphasise that its goal should not be a brief truce but a lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people,” he said, while congratulating Trump on his inauguration.
Reiterating his commitment to Russian interests, Putin stated, “We will, of course, fight for the interests of Russia, for the interests of the Russian people.” He also welcomed Trump’s determination to prevent the Ukraine war from escalating into “World War III,” a scenario the US president warned about during his campaign.
ALSO READ: Putin Says Russia Open to Ukraine Peace Talks with Trump Administration
Both leaders have signalled openness to addressing the conflict, with Trump repeatedly highlighting his ability to mediate and describing the war as “dying to be settled.”
Putin acknowledged this stance, expressing hope that Trump’s approach could lead to progress.
Russian foreign policy adviser Yury Ushakov told reporters that Moscow was “taking into account” Trump’s remarks, but he declined to elaborate, saying the Kremlin was waiting for “concrete proposals that could form the basis for contacts.”
Putin on January 21 spoke with ally Xi in a video call as the two underlined their close ties and discussed their potential contacts with the Trump team.
Russian media quoted Putin as telling Xi that “joint efforts by Russia and China play an important stabilizing role in global affairs.”