President Trump speaks during a press conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Tuesday.
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Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
President Trump has threatened to impose “high” tariffs and sanctions on Russia if there is no agreement to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump called Russian President Vladimir Putin by name in social media postingarguing that he has always had good relations with the leader, but that it was time to resolve “this ridiculous war!”
“We can do it the easy way or the hard way – and the easiest way is always the best way,” Trump wrote on his social media site. “‘It’s time to MAKE A DEAL.’ NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”
During his campaign, Trump repeatedly said he could resolve the war between Russia and Ukraine in a day if elected president. He would go on to claim that Putin would never have invaded if Trump had been president.
It is unclear what impact economic sanctions would have on the Russian government. The Biden administration already imposed various sanctions on the economic sectors of Russia.
Trump said in his message that he was not “seeking to harm Russia” and that he was offering Putin “a very big FAVOR” given the number of lives lost and the impacts on the Russian economy.
“Sit down now and STOP this ridiculous war! IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE,” he also wrote.
Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Trump said Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky would like to have peace, “but it takes two to tango.”
“We’ll see what happens when they want to,” Trump said. “I mean, I would like to see that ending. Millions of people are being killed, and they are being killed. It’s a vicious situation.”
On Monday, the day of the inauguration, Putin congratulated Trump and said he was open to dialogue and an agreement for “long-term peace”.
