Trump Signals Economic Sanctions Against Russia if Ceasefire Fails in Ukraine
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned that he is prepared to impose economic sanctions on Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in the ongoing war in Ukraine. “It’s very, very serious what I have in mind, if I have to do it, but I want to see it end,” Trump told reporters, emphasizing that any measures would focus on economic pressure to avoid escalation into a world war.
Trump has so far held off on previously threatened sanctions, aiming to push forward one-on-one talks between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Putin. While Zelensky has agreed in principle, the Kremlin has indicated no such meeting is currently planned.
“It will not be a world war, but it will be an economic war,” Trump said at a White House Cabinet meeting. “An economic war is going to be bad for Russia, and I don’t want that. Zelensky is not exactly innocent either.” US and European officials continue to discuss potential security guarantees for Kyiv in the event of a deal, including possible air support or intelligence sharing.
Trump, known for leveraging economic tools in foreign policy, is also set to impose a 25% tariff increase on India’s US-bound exports on Wednesday, targeting New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil—of which India is a major consumer. He indicated a willingness to use “a very strong tariff system that’s very costly to Russia or Ukraine” to push for peace.
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