Foreign Affairs

Trump Threatens To Turn Screws On Russia If Battlefield ‘Pounding’ Of Ukraine Continues

(Screen Capture/CSPAN)

President Donald Trump threatened Russia Friday with sanctions and widespread tariffs if Kremlin forces continue attacking Ukraine.

Trump said on Truth Social Friday that he was “strongly considering” various tariffs and sanctions on Russia if a ceasefire and final peace agreement isn’t reached with Ukraine. The war has raged on for three years, claiming tens of thousands of lives while costing the U.S. over $170 billion in aid to Ukraine.

“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump said in his post. “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!” 

Russia unleashed a massive bombardment of Ukrainian infrastructure Thursday night and Friday morning, totaling 67 missiles and 194 drones, the New York Times reported Friday. Ukraine scrambled to defend, but only managed to intercept a fraction of the incoming fire.

Many corporate media outlets have accused Trump of bowing to Putin in his pursuit of peace between the two nations, with the Economist saying that Ukraine was “being sold out” by Trump and the New York Times saying Trump had “turned toward the Kremlin” and that Trump has sided “favorably” with Putin on the war.

Additionally, prominent neoconservative politicians joined the chorus of condemnation, including former Republican Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger, former Trump National Security Advisor John Bolton and former Vice President Mike Pence.

“Mark my words maga, you abandon Ukraine and you will make the Afghanistan withdrawal, and the failure to act in 2014, look like brilliant strategy,” Kinzinger, now a CNN commentator, said on X. “Trump will be seen as the worst president in history for foreign policy. A weak weak scared boy [sic].”

Trump unofficially kicked off peace talks with a phone call to Putin on Feb. 12. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the White House to sign a mineral deal as a step towards peace, but a dust-up with the president in the Oval Office left the deal unsigned.

The Russian Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment.