Trump threatens Russia with large scale’ sanctions

After weeks of softening US policy towards Russia by pulling military and intelligence support for Ukraine, Donald Trump yesterday threatened Moscow with further economic and trade sanctions after a massive Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa triggered fires and damaged energy infrastructure.

- ANDREW FEINBERG

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said Russia was “absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield” and declared that he was “considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia” as a result.

The president added that any sanctions he was considering would remain in place until “a ceasefire and final settlement agreement on peace is reached”. He also exhorted both countries to “get to the table right now, before it is too late”.

Speaking in the Oval Office yesterday, Mr Trump told reporters he still believes Vladimir Putin, who first began sending Russian troops into Ukraine when he illegally annexed Crimea in 2014, wants peace based on statements from the Russian leader.

Mr Trump said he thinks the US is currently “doing very well with Russia”, which he admitted is “bombing the hell out of Ukraine”.

“I'm finding it more difficult, frankly, to deal with Ukraine. They don’t have the cards,” he said.