Trump Weighs Sanctions Against Russia as Relationship With Putin Sours

US President expresses frustration over new attacks in Ukraine and slow pace of talks

- Annie Linskey, Alexander Ward & Josh Dawsey

President Trump is eyeing sanctions against Moscow this week as he grows frustrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin's continued attacks on Ukraine and the slow pace of peace talks, according to people familiar with Trump's thinking.

The restrictions likely wouldn't include new banking sanctions, one of the people said, but other options are under discussion to pressure the Russian leader into concessions at the negotiating table, including a 30-day cease-fire supported by Ukraine that Russia has long rejected. Trump might also decide not to impose new sanctions.

Trump addressed the potential of new sanctions on Sunday, saying that he is "absolutely" considering them. "He's killing a lot of people," Trump said of Putin. "I don't know what's wrong with him. What the hell happened to him?"

Trump is also tiring of the peace negotiations and is considering abandoning them all together if a final push doesn't work, people familiar with his thinking said, a remarkable change for a leader who campaigned on his ability to end the conflict on his first day in office. It is unclear what would happen if the U.S. retreats from the peace process and whether Trump would continue to provide military support to Ukraine.

"President Trump has been clear he wants to see a negotiated peace deal," said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt in a statement to The Wall Street Journal. "President Trump has also smartly kept all options on the table."

The developments mark a new deterioration in relations between the U.S. and Russia—which have had ups and downs even in the past few months. Trump came into office believing he was in a unique position to improve ties between the two countries due to what he viewed as his strong personal relationship with Putin.