Despite campaigning vigorously on a peace-promoting platform and promising to end the war in Ukraine “within 24 hours” or “before he takes office,” President Donald Trump has not given any specifics. He showed little, instead hinting at the appeal of his personal negotiation skills. Tensions eased on Wednesday when President Trump unveiled a strategy to expand sanctions against Russia if the conflict continues.
The president addressed the ongoing war in Ukraine on Truth Social and revealed plans to use economic sanctions against Russia to force an end to the conflict. In the post, President Trump spoke in his characteristic tone, alternating between praising Russia and stern warnings. he wrote,
If we do not come to a “deal”, and soon, we will have no choice but to impose high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions on anything sold by Russia to the United States and various other participating countries. .
The president added that Russia was doing a “huge favor” by providing a powerful weapon for peace, given its “economic collapse.” The post reads in part:
Settle it now and stop this stupid war! It's only going to get worse… We can do it the easy way or we can do it the hard way. And the easy way is always better. It's time to “make a deal”. No more lives should be lost!!!
The proposal builds on steps already taken under President Joe Biden's administration and reflects a shift from President Trump's previous criticism that sanctions against Russia are ineffective. He claimed the war “would never have started” if he had been president, but his approach now suggests conflict resolution may require more than campaign slogans. I am doing it.
Change of deadline
As part of a broader strategy, President Trump has appointed retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg as special envoy to Ukraine. According to the Wall Street Journal, the president ordered him to end the war within 100 days.
Mr. Kellogg, a veteran with a distinguished military record but limited diplomatic experience, was reportedly chosen for the role in part because of his long-standing alignment with Mr. Trump's vision. are. At the same time, he was involved in drafting the peace plan between the two countries for the America First Policy Institute (AFPI). The plan advocates a “carrot and stick” approach to bringing Russia and Ukraine to the negotiating table.
The key elements of that plan are:
Freeze the front lines in their current positions to encourage negotiations without immediate territorial concessions. U.S. military aid to Ukraine is conditional on its willingness to participate in negotiations. Offering partial sanctions relief to Russia as an incentive to participate in peace negotiations. Offers to delay Ukraine's entry into NATO in exchange for U.S.-backed security.
Russia has already dismissed Kellogg's plan as a “non-starter,” citing its refusal to negotiate over annexed Ukrainian territory and its insistence on lifting all sanctions, the WSJ reported.
Russia's reaction: What's new?
Russia has responded cautiously but critically to President Trump's threat of new sanctions and tariffs aimed at putting pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine. According to Newsweek, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the threat as novel, saying:
There's nothing particularly new here. He likes these techniques, at least he did during his first presidency.
Peskov stressed that Russia remains ready for dialogue, but only under conditions of equality and mutual respect. He reiterated Putin's position that meaningful negotiations must address the “root causes” of the conflict. These include, first and foremost, the expansion of NATO, which the Russian government views as a key security concern.
Russia's deputy UN representative, Dmitry Polyansky, also said that resolving the crisis requires addressing the root causes, and doubted that President Trump's economic pressure alone would bring about a solution.
NATO 'very satisfied' with the plan
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte supported President Trump's proposed sanctions against Russia. He explained that these were necessary steps to put pressure on the Russian government to end the war in Ukraine. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Rutte said, NBC reported:
I was very happy with President Trump's position on imposing further sanctions on Russia. We know that the Russian economy is in a very bad situation, and sanctions will help.
He urged European countries to “step up” with additional measures to put pressure on Russia and stressed the need to cut off Russian war funding.
Prime Minister Rutte stressed the importance of a “sustainable” peace agreement, saying it would prevent Russia from pursuing future aggression.
It has to be a strong agreement because we have to reach a position where Russia never tries to occupy one square kilometer of Ukraine again.
He warned against territorial concessions that could undermine Ukraine's long-term security.
Although some allies are showing signs of fatigue after nearly three years of conflict, the NATO chief expressed confidence that the alliance could help turn the war around. He also supported President Trump's call to increase defense spending and called on all NATO members to meet or exceed the 2% GDP goal.
existing sanctions
The US response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine has centered on sanctions, and the Biden administration is working with allies to take a wide range of measures. These include freezing the assets of Russia's central bank, cutting off some banks from the global banking network SWIFT, banning Russian energy imports, and targeting companies linked to the Kremlin. These sanctions are straining Russia's economy, but the conflict is not over. Instead, Russia has deepened its economic ties with countries such as China and India, partially offsetting its impact. President Trump's proposed sanctions largely reflect these efforts, raising questions about how his approach differs from existing policy.
customs duty
On the tariff side, the United States has already imposed significant trade restrictions on Russia. In April 2022, Russia's “most-favored nation” trading status was revoked and high tariffs were imposed on imported goods. Additional measures in 2023 increased tariffs on certain items, including a 200 percent tariff on aluminum and increased tax rates on metals. These measures have sharply reduced trade between the two countries, with total US imports from Russia remaining at just $4.9 billion in 2023. Given its already minimal trade, additional tariffs are unlikely to place significant economic pressure on Russia.
US aid to Ukraine
The United States has provided more than $175 billion in aid to Ukraine since the war began in February 2022. The numbers, detailed in a May 2024 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) report, highlight the scale of U.S. involvement in the conflict.
This assistance includes substantial military assistance, with billions of dollars earmarked for advanced weapons systems such as HIMARS, Patriot missiles, and unmanned aerial vehicles, which will be used in Ukraine's efforts to resist Russian advances. extremely important. Beyond military aid, the United States has directed significant economic aid to stabilize Ukraine's government and keep its economy afloat amid the ongoing conflict. In addition, billions of dollars are being spent to strengthen NATO's eastern flank and strengthen the defense of allies near Russia.
There is no doubt that this unprecedented level of support has strengthened Ukraine's defenses. However, there is no doubt that the focus on military aid rather than negotiations led to conflict. Proposals to tie future aid to Ukraine's participation in peace negotiations would not only emphasize the United States' role in shaping the course of the war, but would also prolong unconstitutional interference in the affairs of both countries.
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