Trump reacts to Zelensky’s demand for stricter Russia sanctions
(MENAFN) US President Donald Trump has responded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s repeated calls for tougher sanctions on Russia, stating that the decision is solely his to make. Zelensky has been urging for additional sanctions, accusing the Russian government of failing to honor peace offers. Since the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022, Western nations have implemented extensive sanctions on Russia, which Moscow has condemned as both illegal and ineffective.
When asked by reporters on Wednesday about the possibility of new sanctions, Trump asserted that it would be “my determination” and “nobody else’s.” He referenced a recent two-and-a-half-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, followed by discussions with EU leaders, saying, "We’ll see how Russia behaves. We’ll see what’s going to happen,” and acknowledged the current critical moment.
Both Trump and Putin described their Monday call as productive, with Trump suggesting that Putin is interested in ending the conflict and warning that imposing additional economic pressure could undermine US mediation efforts. Putin proposed that Russia and Ukraine should formalize a memorandum to map out a broader peace agreement, potentially including a ceasefire.
Trump indicated that he anticipates progress within two weeks but acknowledged the difficulty in reaching a deal. On Tuesday, the EU and UK imposed new rounds of sanctions on Russia. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, a vocal critic of Moscow, stated that more measures were being prepared.
Zelensky welcomed the new sanctions, calling them “a step in the right direction” and emphasized the need for closer cooperation with the US for future sanctions.
In recent talks in Istanbul, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a prisoner exchange of 1,000 prisoners each and pledged to continue discussions, with both sides preparing ceasefire proposals. Kiev had previously demanded an unconditional 30-day ceasefire before direct negotiations, a demand Moscow rejected as a strategy to allow Ukraine’s military to regroup. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that each side would draft their version of the proposed memorandum before proceeding with “difficult” negotiations.
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.
