Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russia, stating that he will impose significant tariffs and sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump emphasized that he would be doing both Russia and Putin a “very big favor” by pushing for a peaceful settlement to the conflict.
Trump, who has previously expressed confidence in his ability to negotiate an end to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine—launched in February 2022—suggested that the war could be resolved within a day under his leadership. While Russia has not yet responded to these remarks, senior officials have indicated that there is a small window of opportunity for Moscow to engage with the new U.S. administration.
Putin has repeatedly expressed willingness to negotiate an end to the war, which began in 2014, but insists that Ukraine must accept the territorial changes Russia has made, with Russian forces currently controlling about 20% of Ukrainian land. Additionally, Putin has stated that Ukraine must give up its aspirations to join NATO. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has made it clear that Ukraine is unwilling to surrender any of its territory, although he has acknowledged the possibility of temporarily ceding some regions.
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In a press conference on Tuesday, Trump indicated that he would be speaking with Putin “very soon” and suggested that further sanctions on Russia were “likely” if the Russian leader did not engage in negotiations. On Wednesday, Trump took to Truth Social, warning that if a deal is not reached soon, he would be forced to implement high levels of tariffs, taxes, and sanctions on Russian exports to the U.S. and other countries involved in the conflict. Trump stated, “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.”
Russia’s deputy UN ambassador, Dmitry Polyanskiy, has made it clear that Moscow would need to know the terms of a potential deal before proceeding with peace talks. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials have stressed the importance of having peacekeepers, including U.S. troops, as part of any peace agreement, citing the need for strong deterrents to Russia’s ongoing aggression.
While some Ukrainians view Trump’s tougher stance on Russia as a sign of strength, others have expressed skepticism, focusing more on concrete actions rather than rhetoric. Trump has not yet clarified the specific economic penalties he intends to impose or when they might take effect, but Russian exports to the U.S. have already been heavily restricted since 2022.
In Russia, there are signs that the Kremlin may be preparing its citizens to accept a less-than-total victory, with some pro-Putin figures discussing more “realistic” conditions for ending the war, such as freezing the conflict along the current frontlines. However, this has sparked outrage among Russian hardliners who demand a complete military victory.
Despite Trump’s recent comments, many Ukrainians remain doubtful about his ability to influence the outcome of the war. With over a decade of conflict and a history of failed peace deals, Ukraine is wary of relying on negotiations alone to end the bloodshed.