US President Donald Trump on Friday threatened new sanctions and tariffs on Russia over its bombardments of Ukraine, after previously suspending US aid to Kyiv in a stated bid to encourage diplomacy.
But in comments later Friday, he said it was “easier” to work with Russia than Ukraine in efforts to end the war.
Trump’s warning to Moscow, published on his Truth Social platform, came hours after Russia launched a “massive” drone and missile attack on Ukrainian energy facilities Friday.
“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.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” he added.
Kevin Hassett, director of the president’s National Economic Council echoed this message in comments to reporters on Friday.
“President Trump is adamant that we need to get everybody to the table, and we could do that with carrots, and we can do that with sticks,” he said.
Talking to reporters Friday after his post online, Trump said he trusted Putin. “I believe him,” he said.
“I’m finding it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine and they don’t have the cards,” he said. “It may be easier dealing with Russia.”
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky is due to meet US officials in Saudi Arabia next week for a fresh round of talks.
“The theme is clear: peace as soon as possible, security as reliable as possible,” he said in his evening address Friday.
“Ukraine is determined to be very constructive.”
Earlier on Friday, he renewed calls for a mutual halt to aerial attacks on critical infrastructure following the latest Russian barrage.
The Ukrainian leader said the first steps to establishing real peace should be stopping both Russian and Ukrainian aerial and naval attacks.
This latest proposal builds on growing rhetoric from Kyiv, Washington and Moscow on halting the war, now in its fourth year.
Ukraine’s allies abroad have voiced support for Zelensky’s truce proposal and on Friday Turkish leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who recently hosted the Ukrainian leader, also gave it his backing.
The Kremlin has previously ruled out a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine.
