United States President Donald Trump has said he may approve new sanctions against the Kremlin if the Russian dictator refuses to pursue a peace agreement with Ukraine. Speaking in an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump made it clear that whether or not sanctions move forward depends entirely on Moscow’s behaviour.
When asked if he would sign a bill backed by Senator Lindsey Graham that proposes tough new economic penalties on Russia, Trump replied, “Well, it depends on whether Russia will behave in a way that leads to peace. We want a peace agreement. We want Russia and Ukraine to come to an agreement.”
Trump added that such a deal could save many lives and large amounts of money. He also noted that the war is more urgent for Europe than for Washington, but the United States also continues to spend significant resources.
He went on to criticise his predecessor, Joe Biden, accusing him of simply sending large amounts of money to Ukraine without understanding the reasons behind it. “Biden did not control anything,” Trump claimed. “He was just sending money. No one had any idea what was happening or why.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, one of Trump’s most vocal allies in the Senate, has already gathered support from 72 senators for the proposed bill. The legislation includes what have been described as “devastating” sanctions against Russia, along with high tariffs on countries continuing to buy Russian oil, gas and other key commodities.
The bill is intended to pressure the Russian dictator to come to the negotiating table in good faith. However, Trump’s past record on Russian affairs, marked by contradictions and soft rhetoric towards Moscow, has led many observers and critics to question whether he will follow through on his words.
The Ukrainian government continues to seek stronger, clearer action from international partners, especially as Russian aggression shows no signs of slowing.
