'It's Time to Make a Deal': Trump Threatens to Impose Sanctions on Russia if Putin Refuses to End War in Ukraine

"It's time to 'MAKE A DEAL.' NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!" Trump wrote in a new social media post. Trump indicated that if a deal isn't made quickly, he would place high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on Russia. "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," Trump said. Trump then threatened that it can be done "the easy way, or the hard way."

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday he would add new tariffs to his sanctions threat against Russia if the country does not make a deal to end its war in Ukraine, and added that these could also be applied to "other participating countries." In a post on Truth Social, Trump modified comments he made on Tuesday that he would likely impose sanctions against Russia if President Vladimir Putin refused to negotiate an end to the nearly three-year conflict. "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," Trump said. Trump's post did not identify the countries that he considered participants in the conflict, or how he defined participation.

The post comes a day after Trump criticized Putin for continuing the war effort despite reports that more than 700,000 Russians have been killed or wounded in the fighting, which has also caused Russia’s economy to plummet with inflation edging towards 10%. “He can’t be thrilled,” Trump said. “He’s not doing so well. I mean, he’s grinding it out … it’s not making him look very good.” “I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal,” he added. Trump noted that despite Moscow’s alleged silence, Zelensky was open to making a deal to end the war so long as it favored Ukraine.