Washington: US President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with "large-scale" sanctions and tariffs until a ceasefire and peace agreement is reached with Ukraine.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on Friday — the same day Ukraine's energy grid was bombarded by aerial attacks — Trump noted that Russia was "pounding Ukraine on the battlefield." As a result, Trump wrote that he was "strongly considering large-scale banking sanctions, sanctions, and tariffs on Russia." He urged both sides to come to the negotiating table and finalise a"settlement agreement on peace."
Trump had previously threatened Russian President Vladimir Putin with sanctions shortly after taking office in January. At the time, he wrote: "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."
However, in recent weeks, Trump has spoken favourably of Russia and echoed Kremlin talking points, including the baseless claim that Ukraine "started" the war. He also referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "dictator."
Tensions escalated last week when Trump berated Zelensky during a heated exchange at the White House. The extraordinary public confrontation led Trump to suspend military aid and intelligence sharing with Kiev.
In an effort to mend relations, Zelensky stated this week that he was ready to work under Trump's "strong leadership" to achieve a lasting peace in Ukraine. He also sent Trump a letter of apology for their exchange at the White House.
Teams from Ukraine and the United States are scheduled to hold talks on the war in Riyadh next week.
National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett signalled that Trump's threat was part of a diplomatic strategy.
"President Trump is adamant that we need to get everybody to the table, and we could do that with carrots, and we can do that with sticks, and he's talking to everybody," Hassett told reporters.
The Ukrainian air defence reported that Kalibr guided missiles, launched from ships in the Black Sea, had been used.
Zelensky later reported on Telegram that Russia had launched nearly 70 missiles at Ukraine, causing damage in the Odessa, Poltava, and Ternopil regions.
Officials said at least five people were injured in the eastern city of Kharkiv. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram that both an infrastructure facility and a nearby residential building were struck.
Terekhov said that rescue workers were searching for more victims under the rubble of the partially collapsed apartment building,adding that six people had been rescued so far.
The western region of Ternopil also saw damage from the attack, withgas supply disruptions reported. However, no fatalities or injurieswere reported in the region, military governor Vyacheslav Nehoda saidon Telegram.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
