Trump threatened Moscow with large-scale sanctions

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump threatened Russia with "large-scale" sanctions and tariffs until a ceasefire and peace agreement with Ukraine is reached.

In a post on his platform Truth Social on Friday, the day Russia carried out air strikes on Ukraine's energy grid, Trump stated that Russia is "beating up on Ukraine on the battlefield".

"Based on the fact that Russia is currently 'beating up' on Ukraine on the battlefield, I am seriously considering large bank sanctions, sanctions and tariffs on Russia until a ceasefire and a FINAL PEACE RESOLUTION is reached. Russia and Ukraine, sit down at the table immediately, before it is too late. Thank you!!!", Trump wrote.

His criticism of Moscow comes in the context of tense relations between Washington and Kyiv following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's visit to the White House last week.

After their public dispute, Trump suspended military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv to pressure Ukraine to accept a ceasefire agreement.

Trump has faced criticism for pressuring Ukraine, including his comment last month that Kyiv, not Russia, was responsible for starting the war.

Trump's threat to impose sanctions and tariffs on Russia comes days after Reuters reported that the White House was drafting a plan to potentially ease sanctions on Russia as part of the administration's efforts to end the war and improve diplomatic and economic relations with Moscow.

Russia, one of the world's largest oil producers, has been subjected to extensive sanctions imposed by the US and its partners following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

US sanctions on Russia include measures aimed at limiting its oil and gas revenues, including a $60 per barrel cap on Russian oil exports.

Former US President Joe Biden also expanded the crackdown on Moscow on January 10, shortly before leaving office, by including Russian energy companies and ships that delivered its oil with additional measures.