Trump Threatens 'Economic War' on Russia Over Ukraine

Trump Threatens Harsh Economic Sanctions on Russia

Former US President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that he is prepared to intensify economic sanctions on Russia, threatening an 'economic war' if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine. He indicated that continued fighting would face 'very serious consequences.'

'An Economic War Would Be Terrible'

Responding to a question about whether Putin intends to hold a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump said, 'It won't be a world war, but it will be an economic war, and an economic war would be terrible. It would be very bad for Russia, and I don't want that.'

Threat of Sanctions as a Tool of Pressure

Trump has long used the threat of economic sanctions or high tariffs on other countries in international affairs. He said, 'If I have to do it, it will be very serious consequences.' He noted that thousands of people are dying weekly in the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Trump's Previous Mediation Efforts

Trump had pledged to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict on the first day of his presidency, but even after the historic summit he held with Putin in Anchorage on August 15, this conflict remained intractable. That summit was widely seen as a beacon of hope for a major breakthrough.

'Shuttle Diplomacy' Proved Unfruitful

Trump played the role of 'shuttle diplomacy' between Putin and Zelensky, raising hopes for a face-to-face meeting between the warring leaders for the first time since the conflict erupted more than three years ago. However, more than a week after the Alaska summit, no new meeting between the leaders has been scheduled. The White House had previously stated that it believed Putin had agreed to meet with Zelensky and that preparations were underway, but the Kremlin has never confirmed this commitment.

Lavrov: Agenda Not Ready

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the media last Friday that Putin would meet with Zelensky when the agenda was ready, but 'this agenda was not ready at all.'

Zelensky Urges Meeting

Zelensky has long urged Putin to hold such a meeting, indicating that Turkey, Gulf states, or European countries could serve as hosts for his final negotiations with Putin.

Trump Criticizes Zelensky

Trump added on Tuesday that 'Zelensky is not completely innocent either.' He had previously accused Zelensky earlier in his term of being insufficiently grateful for American aid and described him as an obstacle to peace.

Changed Relations with Ukraine

'I get along with him very well now, but our relationship is very different now because we are no longer paying any money to Ukraine,' Trump said, referring to an agreement between NATO members to purchase American weapons for use in Kyiv.

Ukrainian Demand for More Weapons

In an interview on Monday, one of Zelensky's senior advisors stated that Kyiv is urgently seeking more weapons from the West, due to concerns that Russia remains 'uninterested in peace,' even after the two recent US summits.

Threatening Harsh Tariffs

Trump also hinted at the possibility of taking action against Kyiv, saying he was willing 'to use a tough tariff system that is very expensive for Russia, Ukraine, or any other country' to force peace, but he did not provide further details. He said:

'Good Relationship with Putin'

'I have a very good relationship with Putin. If I can save thousands of lives by imposing sanctions on Russia, Ukraine, or anyone else, that would be great.'

Previous Threats of Sanctions

Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose sanctions on Moscow and on countries that finance it by buying Russian oil. He has already decided to double tariffs on Indian imports to 50% in response to its insistence on buying Russian oil, but he has not taken any further action against other countries that buy Russian oil. Analysis: Economic sanctions, while a powerful tool, carry economic risks for all parties involved. They can lead to higher inflation, disruption of supply chains, and increased geopolitical tensions.