Trump refuses imposing fresh sanctions on Russia
(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump announced Monday that he opposes introducing new sanctions against Russia, citing the potential for progress toward resolving the Ukraine conflict. His comments followed a two-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which Trump described on Truth Social as having an “excellent” tone. Putin similarly called the discussion “very useful.”
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump explained that imposing tougher sanctions now could disrupt possible diplomatic advancements. “There’s a chance of getting something done,” he said, adding that while additional sanctions might be needed in the future, they could also worsen the situation at present.
Trump also revealed that after his conversation with Putin, he briefed Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky and several European leaders, including those from the UK, France, Germany, Italy, Finland, and the European Commission.
According to the Financial Times, EU officials were taken aback by Trump’s depiction of the call. A source suggested it was clear Trump is not willing to increase pressure on Moscow.
Meanwhile, the EU is preparing to significantly expand its sanctions, aiming to force Russia to end the war. Last week, EU ambassadors approved a 17th sanctions package targeting nearly 200 Russian oil tankers allegedly used to bypass existing restrictions.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot has called for the U.S. and EU to escalate their efforts with more severe sanctions designed to "suffocate" Russia’s economy. U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham also pushed for “bone-crushing” penalties, including steep tariffs on Russian exports if Moscow avoids peace talks.
The Kremlin, however, maintains it is open to a lasting peace agreement but refuses to negotiate under threats. Spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterated that Russia is familiar with Western sanctions and remains unfazed by further restrictions.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
