Trump Considers Sanctions on Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

President Donald Trump has talked about seriously considering imposing large-scale sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace deal with Ukraine is reached.

Trump stated that Russia is "pounding" Ukraine on the battlefield and warned both countries to come to the negotiating table before it is too late. However, his stance on the issue has been inconsistent.

Since taking office, Trump has often praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and blamed Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky for not wanting peace. He even called Zelensky a dictator and accused Ukraine of starting the war. 

Concerns are raised about whether U.S had anything to do with Russia’s recent large-scale missile attack on Ukraine's energy infrastructure after Trump’s administration paused all U.S. military aid and intelligence-sharing with Kyiv.Despite these actions, Trump later announced the possibility of sanctions against Russia. However, he did not provide details on how these sanctions would work.

Russia is already under heavy Western sanctions, but it has found ways to bypass them by selling oil to India and China and importing goods through countries like Kazakhstan.

Trump’s approach has drawn criticism, as many believe he is pressuring Ukraine for a peace deal while not putting the same demands on Russia. The full details of his private conversation with Putin last month remain unclear. Meanwhile, Putin appears to be benefiting from divisions within the U.S. and its allies, making it uncertain whether Trump’s threats will have any real impact.