Trump Renews Threat To Impose Sanctions On Russia If No Progress In Peace Deal

Zelensky Says Russia Is Doing All It Can To Prevent Meeting Between Him And Putin

- REUTERS

WASHINGTON/KYIV — US President Donald Trump renewed on Aug. 22 a threat to impose sanctions on Russia if there is no progress towards a peaceful settlement in Ukraine in two weeks, showing frustration at Moscow a week after his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

“I’m going to make a decision as to what we do and it’s going to be, it’s going to be a very important decision, and that’s whether or not it’s massive sanctions or massive tariffs or both, or we do nothing and say it’s your fight,” Mr. Trump said.

He was unhappy about Russia’s strike on an American-owned factory complex in Ukraine this week, he said.

“I’m not happy about it, and I’m not happy about anything having to do with that war,” Mr. Trump told reporters at the White House.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Aug. 22 that Russia was doing everything it could to prevent a meeting between him and Mr. Putin, while Russia’s Foreign Minister said the agenda for such a meeting was not ready.

Mr. Zelensky has repeatedly called for Mr. Putin to meet him, saying it is the only way to negotiate an end to the war.

Mr. Trump had said he had begun arrangements for a Putin-Zelensky meeting after a call with the Russian leader on Aug. 18 that followed their Alaska meeting on Aug. 15.