Trump threatens Russia with sanctions if Ukraine persists

President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to impose “heavy” sanctions on Russia and tariffs on imports from that country if the country does not reach a deal to end its nearly three-year war. years against Ukraine.

Trump’s warning, issued in a social media post on his third day as president, named Russian President Vladimir Putin by name.

“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no choice but to impose high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions on everything sold by Russia to the United States and various other participating countries,” he added. Trump wrote at Truth Social.

“Let’s end this war, which would never have started if I had been president! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better,” Trump wrote.

“It’s time to “MAKE A DEAL”. NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”

Trump has repeatedly said he could end the war in Ukraine in a day if elected to a second non-consecutive term in the White House. The war began in February 2022 with a Russian invasion.

“They are dying, the Russians and the Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And I will do it – I will do it in 24 hours,” he said in May 2023.

That didn’t happen shortly after his inauguration on Monday.

But Trump’s message to Russia on Wednesday revealed his intention to deploy economic weapons against that country similar to those he has threatened against U.S. allies like Mexico and Canada if those countries do not comply. his will.

“I am not trying to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people and have always had a very good relationship with President Putin – despite the radical left’s Russia, Russia, Russia hoax,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We must never forget that Russia helped us win World War II, losing nearly 60,000,000 lives in the process.”

“All that being said, I am going to do a very big FAVOR to Russia, whose economy is bankrupt, and to President Putin. Settle down now and STOP this ridiculous war!” Trump wrote.

“IT’S ONLY GETTING WORSE.”

Trump’s claims about Russian losses in World War II are significantly higher than experts’ estimates.

The National World War II Museum in New Orleans estimates that the total number of military and civilian casualties in the Soviet Union during the war was 24 million.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in December that 43,000 Ukrainian troops had been killed in combat and another 370,000 wounded.

Zelensky also said Ukraine estimated 198,000 Russian troops had been killed and more than 550,000 wounded.