“Time for a Deal”: Trump Calls on Putin to Put an End to the War in Ukraine or Face Sanctions

Trump has threatened to impose harsh taxes and sanctions on Russia if Putin does not engage in peace talks to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

If President Vladimir Putin would not agree to cease the current war in Ukraine, US President Donald Trump has threatened to put additional sanctions and heavy tariffs on Russia.

Trump reiterated his assertion that the battle would not have begun under his leadership while writing on his social media platform, Truth Social, that promoting peace was giving Russia and its leader “a very big favor.”

Trump has before claimed that he could negotiate a war resolution within twenty-four hours of entering office. He told reporters on Tuesday that he would talk to Putin “very soon,” but that if Russia doesn’t participate in peace negotiations, more sanctions might be imposed.

“I’m going to do Russia, whose economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR,” Trump said in a more aggressive post on Wednesday. Now settle down and put an end to this pointless war! The situation will only worsen. I will be forced to impose hefty taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on whatever that Russia sells to the US and other participating nations if we are unable to reach a “deal” quickly.

In addition to asserting that the conflict “never would have started” during his presidency, the former president called for a speedy conclusion, stating, “We can do it the easy way, or the hard way—and the easy way is always better.” The time has come to MAKE A DEAL.

Russia has not formally addressed Trump’s comments. But before taking any action, the Kremlin would need to know exactly what Trump is asking for, Deputy UN Ambassador Dmitry Polyanskiy said Reuters. In the meantime, Russian pro-Putin voices have alluded to a change in tone.

Hardliners have taken offense at a recent suggestion by prominent state TV editor Margarita Simonyan that Russia might think about stopping the war along the current frontlines.

Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky underlined the importance of strong peacekeeping efforts. In order to provide a credible deterrent to Russia, he said, any deal would need at least 200,000 peacekeepers, including US forces.

“The United States cannot be excluded,” Zelensky stated. “No, it won’t be, even if some of my European friends believe it can be.”

Trump’s strategy is still seen with skepticism by Ukrainians, as many social media users have criticized the penalties as being insufficient. Others questioned Putin’s readiness to participate in sincere peace negotiations.

Ukraine has been trying to hold onto its land since the crisis started in 2014 and intensified into a full-scale invasion in 2022. Kyiv has rejected Putin’s demands that Ukraine give up its hopes of joining NATO and accept Russian rule over 20% of its territory.

Trump also appealed to Russian citizens in his remarks on Truth Social, using language that acknowledged the Soviet Union’s defeats in World War II. His tone is considered as conciliatory by some experts, but others point to his earlier comments that implied he could “understand” Russia’s concerns regarding NATO expansion—a stance perceived as sympathetic to Putin’s narrative.

Ukraine’s leadership and populace seem cautious of hollow promises as the conflict rages on. Even with Trump’s involvement, many people are still pessimistic about the likelihood of a resolution after years of fighting and broken peace accords.

For the time being, Moscow and Kyiv seem to be firmly established, with Ukraine determined to retake its territory and Russia’s hardliners aiming for triumph. Trump’s stance highlights the difficulties of international diplomacy in the current conflict, even though it is unclear if his planned taxes and sanctions may influence Putin.