United States President, Donald Trump, has issued a stark warning to Vladimir Putin, threatening steep tariffs and additional sanctions on Russia if the conflict in Ukraine is not resolved.
In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump described his push for peace as a “very big favour” to both Russia and its president.
The US president, who has previously claimed he could negotiate an end to Russia’s full-scale invasion within a single day, emphasized the urgency of resolving the conflict, which escalated significantly in February 2022 but traces its roots back to 2014.
While Russia has not officially responded to Trump’s remarks, some senior officials have recently indicated a narrow opportunity for discussions with a potential new US administration.
Putin, while open to negotiations, insists that Ukraine accept the territorial gains Russia has made, now encompassing roughly 20% of Ukraine’s land.
He also remains firm in rejecting Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO.
On the other hand, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has made it clear that Ukraine does not intend to cede any territory permanently, though he has acknowledged the possibility of temporarily relinquishing some occupied areas.
Speaking at a news conference on Tuesday, Trump revealed plans to speak with Putin “very soon” and hinted at imposing more sanctions if the Russian leader remained unwilling to negotiate.
However, his Truth Social post the following day presented a more forceful stance:
“I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR,” Trump wrote. “Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. 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.”
He added, “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. It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.'”
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, told Reuters that Moscow would need to understand Trump’s terms for a deal before moving forward. Meanwhile, President Zelensky has reiterated that any peacekeeping force in Ukraine would require the involvement of US troops to serve as a credible deterrent to Russia.
Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Zelensky estimated that at least 200,000 peacekeepers would be necessary, telling Bloomberg, “It can’t be without the United States… Even if some European friends think it can be, no it will not be.”
Trump’s tougher rhetoric has drawn mixed reactions in Kyiv. While some Ukrainians appreciate the approach, they are skeptical, preferring concrete actions over words.
Online responses have largely dismissed more sanctions as inadequate given Russia’s continued aggression. The question of what Putin might agree to in any peace talks remains at the forefront.
In Russia, there are signs of a potential shift in the Kremlin’s stance. Some observers believe Moscow may be preparing the public to accept a settlement that falls short of its earlier ambitions, which included seizing the southern port city of Odesa.
Margarita Simonyan, a pro-Putin television editor, recently suggested a “realistic” compromise, potentially freezing the conflict along the current frontlines.
However, this would leave parts of Zaporizhzhia and other contested regions under Kyiv’s control, enraging Russia’s hardline “Z” bloggers.
In his post, Trump also framed his proposed measures with expressions of “love” for the Russian people and respect for Soviet sacrifices in World War II.
However, his exaggerated estimates of Soviet losses and focus on Russia alone overlooked the millions of Ukrainians and other Soviet citizens who also perished during the war.
Although Trump’s rhetoric has shifted, Ukrainians remain wary after years of conflict and failed peace agreements. For many, hope for a genuine resolution feels distant despite the international attention on his remarks.
