Sign in Subscribe
Trump, Donald

Trump Threatens Russia with New Sanctions and Trade War as Ukraine Conflict Escalates

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

In a sharp shift from his earlier stance on the conflict in Ukraine, President Trump warned Russia that he would impose a new round of punishing sanctions if it did not agree to a peace deal within 50 days. The announcement comes as the US president carries out a remarkable shift in tone, if not in practice, on the war in Ukraine, which has seen Russia launch a full-scale invasion in 2022 and escalate attacks amid peace negotiations this year. Trump claimed that Russia's President Putin had fooled many leaders, including Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden, but not him.

Key Takeaways:

  • President Trump has threatened to impose a new round of punishing sanctions on Russia if it does not agree to a peace deal within 50 days.
  • The US will sell Patriot air defense missiles to NATO members, which will then supply them to Ukraine.
  • The US will "send a lot of weapons of all kinds" to Ukraine, with the goal of delivering them to the battlefield within days.
  • Trump threatened to impose "secondary tariffs," which could be as high as 100 percent, and secondary sanctions on countries that trade with Russia.
  • Trump has repeatedly threatened to punish Russia over its escalating attacks in Ukraine, but has so far not followed through with concrete action.
  • The Russian President Putin has remained undeterred by Trump's threats and continues to seek major concessions from Ukraine.

Statistics:

  • The US has committed to delivering a range of artillery to the battlefield within days.
  • The new deal brokered by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and European leaders will see the US sell Patriot air defense missiles to NATO members, which will then supply them to Ukraine.
  • The US will pay for 100 percent of the weapons sent to Ukraine.
  • Trump has threatened to impose secondary tariffs as high as 100 percent on Russian goods.
  • The conflict in Ukraine has seen Russia launch a full-scale invasion in 2022 and escalate attacks amid peace negotiations this year.

Sources:

  • The New York Times (no date provided)
  • Steven Erlanger, David E. Sanger, Ana Swanson, and Anton Troianovski contributed reporting.
  • PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG MILLS/THE NEW YORK TIMES

Read more