Trump’s warning, made in a social media post on his third day as president, called out Russian President Vladimir Putin by name.
“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! 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!!!”
Gee, if only someone had tried this.
Russia is already heavily sanctioned.
Trump lacks any real policy or plan to tackle Russia, so he threatens them with the same policy that has been in effect since 2014 following the invasion of the Crimea and which were added to a number of times since and then drastically expanded following the 2022 invasion.
It honestly reads more as lip service if you look at the history of the war and the fact that the loss of billions upon billions of dollars in lost export revenue, the exclusion of major Russian banks from the international banking and the billions in frozen funds that Russia has already suffered has done very little to stifle Putin's desire to play at empire building.
As of January 22, 2025, the United States, European Union (EU), and allied nations have imposed extensive sanctions on Russia to pressure it into a peace agreement with Ukraine. These measures target key sectors of Russia's economy, aiming to curtail its capacity to finance the ongoing conflict.
United States Sanctions:
Energy Sector: The U.S. has implemented its most extensive sanctions against Russia's oil and gas industries, targeting major companies such as Gazprom Neft and Surgutneftegas, along with 183 vessels involved in transporting Russian oil. These measures are designed to significantly reduce Russia's revenue streams that fund its war efforts.
Financial Institutions: Sanctions have been imposed on Russia's largest financial institutions, including the freezing of assets and exclusion from the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication (SWIFT) system, effectively isolating them from the global financial network.
Defense and Technology: The U.S. has restricted exports of high-tech products, such as semiconductors and aircraft equipment, to degrade Russia's military capabilities. Additionally, sanctions target entities involved in Russia's military-industrial complex, including manufacturers and suppliers supporting the war effort.
U.S. Department of the Treasury
European Union Sanctions:
Trade Restrictions: The EU has imposed bans on the import and export of various goods, including a prohibition on reloading Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) within EU territory for transshipment to third countries. These measures aim to disrupt Russia's trade and diminish its economic stability.
Financial Measures: Sanctions include freezing assets of Russian banks and individuals, restricting access to EU capital markets, and prohibiting financial transactions that could benefit Russia's war efforts.
Individual Sanctions: The EU has sanctioned nearly 2,400 individuals and entities responsible for actions undermining Ukraine's territorial integrity, including political figures, military personnel, and propagandists.
Recent Developments:
President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, demanding a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. Trump warned that without a peace deal, Russia would face severe taxes, tariffs, and sanctions from the United States and its allies.
The Biden administration, prior to leaving office, implemented new sanctions against Russia's oil and gas sectors to curb revenues funding the war in Ukraine. These measures target major Russian oil companies and vessels involved in transporting Russian oil.
These coordinated sanctions are designed to exert maximum economic pressure on Russia, compelling it to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.