Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Putin, demanding an end to the Ukraine conflict or face high tariffs.
Washington: So, Trump just threw down the gauntlet to Putin. He’s saying that if the Russian leader doesn’t wrap up the Ukraine war, he’ll hit Russia with some serious tariffs. He even said, “It’s time to make a deal.”
In a post on his Truth Social, Trump made it clear he’s not out to hurt the Russian people. But he didn’t hold back when he told Putin to “stop this ridiculous war!”
He went on to say he’s always had a good relationship with Putin and even praised the Soviet Union for helping during World War II. But he’s worried things are only going to get worse if they don’t come to an agreement soon.
Trump warned that if a deal isn’t made, he’ll have no choice but to impose high taxes and tariffs on Russian goods coming into the U.S. He emphasized that they could do this the easy way or the hard way, and the easy way is always better.
He’s really pushing for a resolution, saying no more lives should be lost. Just the other day, he claimed he could end the conflict in just 24 hours if he were in charge.
Meanwhile, Russia’s deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyanskiy, said they need to know what Trump means by a deal before they can move forward. He pointed out that it’s not just about ending the war; they need to tackle the root causes of the crisis.
Hours after Trump’s comments, Russia launched a new attack on Ukraine, hitting Zaporizhzhia and causing casualties. It’s a tough situation, with many people left without power or heating after the assault.
Since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022, the war has taken a heavy toll on both sides. Trump has hinted that Ukraine might not get as much support if he returns to the White House, and he’s been vocal about the financial burden on the U.S.
He’s used the threat of tariffs before to push other countries to change their behavior, and it looks like he’s trying to do the same with Russia. The Biden administration has already imposed sanctions on countries aiding Russia, but the negotiating table seems far apart.
Trump also mentioned that he’s looking into sending weapons to Ukraine and thinks the EU should step up their support. He even had a chat with China’s Xi Jinping, urging him to help settle the conflict.
It’s a complicated mess, and many are worried about what might happen next.
