'Make A Deal': Trump Reaches Out To Russia's Putin Over Ukraine, Then Fires A Sanction Warning

Last Updated:January 22, 2025, 22:12 IST

Trump said he would have no choice but to impose sanctions on Russian exports if a deal is not finalised to end the Ukraine conflict. The US President had vowed a quick resolution to the war.

Trump threatened Russia with sanctions if a Ukraine deal is not finalised. (AP file photo)

US President Donald Trump issued a big warning to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on Wednesday – telling him to make a deal to end the grinding war in Ukraine or face tariffs and sanctions.

“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," Trump said on his Truth Social network.

Trump also said he was not looking to hurt Russia, asserting that he “loved" the Russian people and had a great relationship with Putin. “We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process. All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE," he said.

The gruelling war will complete a grim three-year mark next month, when Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Tens of thousands of people have been killed in the conflict and no resolution has been achieved despite billions of dollars of Western aid to Ukraine.

In unusually critical remarks of Putin on Monday, Trump said the Russian president was “destroying Russia by not making a deal."

The newly sworn in US president had previously promised a quick resolution to the conflict soon after taking office. “Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better. It’s time to “MAKE A DEAL." NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!" he said in his post.

Putin On Trump’s Promises Over Ukraine War

Putin had congratulated Trump ahead of his swearing-in on Monday and said Russia remained “open to dialogue" for a lasting peace in Ukraine. Although Russia has been skeptical of Trump’s promises, it has expressed willingness to engage with his administration for a resolution.

https://www.news18.com/world/open-to-dialogue-putin-congratulates-donald-trump-hopes-for-peace-in-ukraine-under-his-presidency-9195680.html

“We are also open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict," Putin said in televised remarks, congratulating Trump on his upcoming inauguration. Any settlement should ensure “lasting peace based on respect for the legitimate interests of all people", he added.

Last year, Trump said the Russia-Ukraine conflict was “dying to be settled" and that he would speak to both Moscow and Kyiv to avoid “World War III". Putin said he “welcomed" Trump’s desire to prevent a third world war.

Trump has reaffirmed his intention to broker peace in Ukraine, declaring earlier this month that “Putin wants to meet" and that such a meeting is being set up. In the past, he has criticized U.S. military aid for Ukraine and even vowed to end the conflict in a single day if elected.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said US President Donald Trump has told him that he wanted the war to end but wondered whether there was a clear vision as yet for exit from the war.

“Our teams have been in the process of organising the meeting with President Trump. Discussions so far have been very atmospheric, these have been very general meetings. So far we don’t have a date," Zelenskyy told a select media grouping here during the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting. “Any phone call with Putin was not discussed with me but he said we’ll talk and we’ll work something out."

(with inputs from agencies)

Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

News world 'Make A Deal': Trump Reaches Out To Russia's Putin Over Ukraine, Then Fires A Sanction Warning