Reports indicate that President Donald Trump warned his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, of potentially precarious consequences amid escalating tensions. This comes as speculations mount about the possible imposition of new sanctions on Moscow by the United States.
President Trump took to his Truth Social page to voice his concerns. His statement suggests that the Russian President may not fully grasp the severity of his actions, and he cautioned Putin that he was “playing with fire.”
Trump’s warning coincides with growing reports that he might be contemplating introducing fresh sanctions on Russia. Recent weeks have seen the drafting of several sanction options, with Congressional members urging Trump to approve them.
Trump stated on Sunday that he would “absolutely” consider new sanctions in light of Russia’s intense attacks on Ukrainian targets. However, sources in proximity to the White House told CNN that Trump might not apply the sanctions, following private expressions of concern that new sanctions might push Russia further away from peace negotiations.
On one hand, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., along with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., are pushing “very, very hard” for the sanctions. Their bipartisan Senate bill proposes drastic measures, including secondary sanctions that would impose 500% tariffs on countries purchasing Russian energy. Over 80 senators have expressed their support for this measure.
On the other hand, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that these reports of potential new US sanctions are part of a campaign aimed at hampering peace talks with Ukraine.
Trump criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the weekend. Trump labeled Putin as “crazy” for continuing missile attacks that are killing Ukrainian citizens despite ongoing peace talks. Simultaneously, he rebuked Zelenskyy for his manner of communication, asserting that the conflict would not have commenced had he been the sitting president in 2022.
President Trump warns Putin of potential dangers, contemplates new sanctions, and criticizes both Russian and Ukrainian leadership. We will monitor these developments and keep you updated.