According to President Trump, he is reportedly now “considering” the possibility of implementing extensive sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a peace agreement is reached in the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.
According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia initiated its most recent aerial assault on Ukrainian cities on Friday morning, employing 194 attack drones and 67 missiles.
The air force reported that the majority of the missiles were intercepted; however, officials reported that power and gas facilities were damaged.
Russia has consistently targeted Ukraine’s electricity grid, resulting in frequent outages in cities throughout the nation.
The Trump administration announced earlier this week that it had ordered a pause in intelligence sharing with Ukraine. This action deprives Kyiv of a critical weapon in its efforts to combat Russian forces.
Additionally, the United States has halted the shipment of armaments to Ukraine.
The president also stated that he has maintained a positive relationship with Putin and believes that the Russian leader will be “more generous than he has to be” in order to resolve the conflict.
The path forward for the ceasefire agreement is uncertain following a fiery Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, as evidenced by Trump’s most recent remarks.
Next week, senior U.S. officials intend to convene with Ukrainian officials in Saudi Arabia to establish the groundwork for prospective peace negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv.
The efficacy of Trump’s tariff threat is uncertain. According to Census Bureau data, Russia exported approximately $2.9 billion in products to the United States in 2024, a decrease from $29.6 billion in 2021, prior to the commencement of the conflict.
For years, the United States and its allies have been imposing sanctions and other punitive measures on Russia.
These measures include an attempt to limit the price of energy exported by Russia and exclude Russian banks from the SWIFT international payments messaging system.
The Russian economy has been grappling with persistently high inflation, labor constraints, and interest rates that have reached a historic high of 21%.
Trump has the option to continue to pursue Russia’s oil, which includes some of its largest energy producers, including Rosneft and Lukoil.
The U.S. president has been subjected to criticism from Democrats, some Republicans, and diplomats for occasionally publicly criticizing Zelensky and reiterating Putin’s talking points about Ukraine.
He has stated that he has engaged in direct communication with the Russian leader regarding the cessation of the conflict since assuming office.
[READ MORE: Trump Claims Discussions With Putin Over Ukraine ‘Productive’]
