In a stunning development, former US President Donald Trump has suggested that renewed sanctions against Russia may be necessary to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking to reporters, Trump said it “sounds like” the US might need to impose additional penalties on Moscow if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to come to the negotiating table.
“We’re talking to [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy, we’re going to be talking with President Putin very soon,” Trump revealed. “We’re going to look at it.” The bombshell remarks signal a potential major shift in US policy toward the conflict as Trump returns to power.
A Push for Peace Talks
Trump emphasized the urgent need for a diplomatic solution, stating that Putin “should make a deal” because “he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal”. The former president believes that threatening further economic pressure could finally force the Kremlin’s hand:
I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal.
Donald Trump on Vladimir Putin’s refusal to negotiate
Key Developments:
- Trump says he spoke with Chinese President Xi Jinping and urged him to intervene to stop the war
- Zelenskyy tells Davos the EU must “take care of itself” and prepare for a US policy shift under Trump
- Ukraine and Russia trade drone strikes, hitting oil depots and aviation plants
The Ukraine war has raged for over two years now with no end in sight. Trump’s willingness to ratchet up economic pressure on Russia marks a notable change from his previous stances and could breathe new life into stalled peace efforts.
Changing Calculus in Europe
For European leaders, Trump’s return to the White House injects fresh uncertainty into an already volatile situation. Speaking at the World Economic Forum, Zelenskyy urged his European counterparts to “take care of themselves” and consider whether Trump will maintain support for Ukraine and NATO.
Will President Trump even notice Europe? Does he see NATO as necessary?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
As the war grinds on, the human toll continues to mount. Over 200 Ukrainian civilians, including elderly and disabled residents, remain trapped in the frontline town of Chasiv Yar under heavy Russian assault. With the conflict at a stalemate, Trump’s push for new sanctions may be the jolt needed to finally bring Putin to the table.
The Path Forward
Much remains uncertain, but one thing is clear – Donald Trump’s vision for ending the war in Ukraine relies heavily on wielding America’s economic might to bend Russia to its will. With the EU facing new pressures and China so far unwilling to step in, Washington may once again hold the keys to peace.
As the world waits anxiously for signs of a breakthrough, all eyes now turn to the high-stakes sanctions showdown looming between two of the planet’s most powerful leaders. Will Trump’s gambit pay off, or will Putin call his bluff? For the people of Ukraine, and all those yearning for an end to the bloodshed, everything hangs in the balance.
