AP Photo/Mary Altaffer
President Donald Trump announced via social media that he is considering “large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia” as punishment for its continued “pounding” of Ukraine on Wednesday
Overnight, Russia launched massive airstrikes against Ukraine, even as the United States is aiming to broker a peace agreement with the two nations. While the Trump administration has largely focused on vilifying Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, even going so far as to throw him out of the Oval Office last month, the deadly conflict began with Vladimir Putin’s invasion of his western neighbor in early 2022.
But on Friday, just one week after the historic and contentious Oval Office meeting, Trump threatened sanctions against Russia as retaliation for the recent air strike, writing on Truth Social:
Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED. To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!
Critics of Trump’s foreign policy have long claimed that he takes the most charitable view of Putin’s expansionistic behavior, and, to be fair, Trump has largely given him a pass for invading Ukraine, calling him “genius” and “savvy” while blaming U.S. foreign policy under Biden.
This recent threat, though not yet fulfilled, may signal a significant shift for the Trump administration’s approach to Russia. Or it could just be another empty threat.
