Trump weighs new sanctions against Russia, a few days after ending military aid and sharing information with Ukraine

By Aamer Madhani and Chris Megerian

Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump said on Friday that he “strongly considered” to make new sanctions and prices on Russia for his war against Ukraine, floating the possibility of new pressure on Moscow just days after having ordered a break on American military assistance and intelligence sharing with Kyiv.

Trump, in an article on his social platform Truth, said that he was considering the action “based on the fact that Russia” beaten “Ukraine on the battlefield at the moment”.

He added that potential sanctions could remain in place until the two parties arrive at a ceasefire and the peace regulations.

The threat of sanctions occurred while Trump faces criticism for increasing pressure on Ukraine to conclude an agreement while playing or even denying Russia’s responsibility to start the war with its invasion three years ago.

“In Russia and Ukraine, arriving at the table at the moment, before it is too late,” added Trump in his post.

The secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, said on Thursday at the New York Economic Club club that the United States had maintained his sanctions in place on Russia and “would not hesitate to go at least if it ensured a leverage in the peace negotiations”.

The administration of Joe Biden during the invasion of Russia of Ukraine imposed thousands of sanctions on companies, people and Russian ships as well as a price ceiling on Russian oil, among other actions.

Bessent called the Biden Russian energy sanctions “weakly weak” and “resulting from concerns concerning upward pressure on American energy prices”.

“According to President Trump’s advice, sanctions will be used explicitly and aggressively for an immediate maximum impact,” said Bessent. “They will be carefully monitored to ensure that they achieve specific objectives.”

Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, told journalists on Friday that there was still a “large number” space to put pressure on the Russian economy through sanctions.

“President Trump is categorical that we have to bring everyone to the table, and we could do it with carrots, and we could do it with sticks,” said Hassett.

Russia has launched night attacks against Ukrainian energy facilities with dozens of missiles and drones, officials said on Friday, hindering the country’s ability to offer heat and light to its citizens and vital weapons factories to its defenses.

The dam – which also struck the residences and injured at least 10 people – occurred a few days after the United States suspended military aid and information in Ukraine to put pressure on the acceptance of a peace agreement pushed by the Trump administration.

Without American intelligence, Ukraine’s ability to strike in Russia and defend itself against bombing is considerably reduced.

Trump, a few days in his second mandate from the non -consecutive White House, said that targeting Russia’s oil income was the best way to end Moscow at his almost three -year war against Ukraine. He relied on the idea that OPEC +, the alliance of oil producing nations, holds the key to ending the war by reducing oil prices.

But this push was received coldly by the OPEC +nations, which include the kingdom rich in oil from Saudi Arabia.

Trump had a complicated story with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Republican President even raised the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election to explain why he believes that he can trust Putin so as not to restart his war against Ukraine if a truce is reached.

“Putin has gone through a lot of things with me,” Trump Volodymyr Zelenskyy told Trump Volodymy at the meeting of the controversial oval office last week who led Trump to break and information with Ukraine. “He crossed a shack of witches where they used it and Russia. Russia, Russia, Russia, never heard of this agreement? »»

The writer Associated Press, Fatima Hussein, contributed the reports.

Originally published: March 7, 2025 at 9:34 PST