Trump plans more Russia sanctions as missiles hit Kyiv’s energy facilities
US President Donald Trump said on Friday that he is “strongly considering” imposing sanctions, including ones on banking, and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached with Ukraine.` Trump has also paused military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine to pressure Kyiv to accept a ceasefire deal after an explosive Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a week ago.
“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large-scale banking sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and final settlement on peace is reached,” Trump said. “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!” Trump has faced criticism for doubling down on Ukraine, including his comment last month that Kyiv, not Russia, was responsible for starting the war.
Meanwhile, Russian forces damaged Ukrainian energy and gas infrastructure overnight in their first major missile attack since the US paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine, piling pressure on Kyiv as President Donald Trump seeks a swift end to the war.
Zelenskyy, seeking to shore up Western support for his country after Trump’s diplomatic pivot towards Moscow, called for a truce covering air and sea, though not ground troops — an idea first mooted by France.
“The first steps to establishing real peace should be forcing the sole source of this war, Russia, to stop such attacks,” Zelenskyy said .
In a further sign of re-engagement with the US, Zelenskyy said late on Thursday he would travel to Saudi Arabia next Monday for a meeting with Saudi Crown Prince ahead of talks there later in the week between US and Ukrainian officials.
