Donald Trump ‘strongly considering’ sanctions and tariffs on Russia until ceasefire with Ukraine is reached
US President Donald Trump says he is “strongly considering” sanctions and tariffs on Russia in hopes of forcing a settlement to the war in Ukraine.
He said in a post on Truth Social on Thursday (early Friday AEDT) that they could remain in place until a ceasefire and “final settlement agreement on peace” were reached.
The post came as Trump faced criticism for increasing pressure on Ukraine to reach a deal while downplaying or even denying Russia’s responsibility for starting the war with its invasion three years ago.
Trump said he is “strongly considering” sanctions and tariffs on Russia in hopes of forcing a settlement to the war in Ukraine. (60 Minutes)The post came as Trump faces criticism for increasing pressure on Ukraine to reach a deal while downplaying or even denying Russia’s responsibility for starting the war (Truth Social/Donald Trump)
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” Trump added.
Uncertainty in world markets continues after he declared a weeks-long delay of tariffs on many imports from Mexico and some imports from Canada.
Meanwhile, European Union leaders on Friday downplayed scepticism from Trump about solidarity among NATO members, a day after they backed plans to spend more on defence amid wavering US support.
Trump’s repeated warnings that he would make European allies face the threat of Russia alone has spurred countries, that for decades faltered on defence spending, to find ways to bolster their security and back Ukraine in its war against Russia.
The US president has criticised the alliance for years, arguing that European members have not contributed enough toward their own security.
Trump also revealed he sent a letter to Iran’s leaders seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal, in a teaser clip aired Friday on Fox Business News ahead of a full interview with Maria Bartiromo airing on Sunday.
Trump revealed he sent a letter to Iran’s leaders seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal, in a teaser clip aired Friday on Fox Business News ahead of a full interview airing on Sunday. (Fox Business)
“I’ve written them a letter saying, ‘I hope you’re going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, it’s going to be a terrible thing,'” Trump said.
He later added that he had sent the letter “yesterday” in the interview, which was filmed on Thursday.
The White House confirmed Trump’s comments, saying he sent a letter to Iran’s leaders seeking to negotiate a nuclear deal.
“I would rather negotiate a deal. I’m not sure that everybody agrees with me, but we can make a deal that would be just as good as if you won militarily,” Trump added.
“But the time is happening now. The time is coming up. Something’s going to happen one way or the other.”
“I hope you’re going to negotiate because it’s going to be a lot better for Iran and I think they want to get that letter,” Trump said.
In this photo released by an official website of the office of the Iranian supreme leader, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, speaks in a meeting with a group of defense officials, in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2025. (Office of the Iranian Supreme Leader via AP)
“The other alternative is we have to do something because you can’t let them have a nuclear weapon.”
Trump’s comments about the letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were not immediately confirmed by the supreme leader.
Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency reported on Trump’s comments, citing the broadcast. However, there was no immediate word from the office of the 85-year-old Khamenei, who has final say over all matters of state.
Iran long has maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, even as its officials increasingly threaten to pursue the bomb as tensions are high with the US over its sanctions and with Israel as a shaky ceasefire holds in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.
Since Trump returned to the White House, his administration has consistently said that Iran must be prevented from acquiring nuclear weapons.
A report last month, however, by the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog said Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium.
Trump’s first term in office was marked by a particularly troubled period in relations with Tehran.
In 2018, he unilaterally withdrew the United States from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers, leading to sanctions hobbling the economy.
He ordered the killing of the country’s top general in a Baghdad drone strike in 2020.
