The top line
President Donald Trump warned on Wednesday that he would impose “higher levels” of taxes, tariffs and sanctions on Russia unless Russian President Vladimir Putin strikes a deal to end the war in Ukraine, recently with the U.S. Trade between and Russia has become increasingly restricted. The year
Trump called on Russia to “make a deal” or the US would impose new sanctions.
Key facts
Should Russia and “various other participating countries” fail to end the war in Ukraine, Trump wrote Truth said on Social that he would have “no other choice” but to impose new taxes, tariffs and sanctions, although he did not identify the participants.
It was not immediately clear what level of tariffs would be imposed on Russia, although Trump proposed 100 percent tariffs on all BRICS countries in November, leaving a group of countries including Russia, India, China and Iran. will be affected if they try to replace the dollar in international trade. .
Trump, who cited his “very good relationship” with Putin, said he was doing Russia a “huge favor” by issuing his threat, and suggested that if the war does not end, “it It will only get worse.”
Trump said an agreement to end the war could be reached “the easy way or the hard way,” though he did not specify what the “hard way” was.
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Important quote
Trump wrote: “Let’s start this war that would never have started if I were president! We can do it the easy way or the hard way — and the easy way is always better. It’s ‘making a deal.’ It’s time.’ No more lives should be lost!!!”
What do we import from Russia?
Oil, minerals and cement accounted for about 60 percent of all Russian imports to the United States in 2021. According to To the Bureau of Industry and Security. Other goods include stone, glass, iron, steel and agricultural products. Trade between the two countries has declined since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, however, and the United States has imposed sanctions against several Russian officials and companies for alleged involvement in the war. Total imports from Russia 14.4 billion dollars in 2022, down 51 percent from 2021 ($29.6 billion), before falling to $2.8 billion in 2024.
What other tariffs has Trump proposed?
On the eve of his inauguration, Trump threatened tariffs on imports from other countries, including 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico and 10% tariffs on China. Trump proposed that the tariffs would be imposed by February 1.
Key background
Trump claimed If he were president, in May 2023 he could have settled Russia’s war with Ukraine “in one day, in 24 hours.” That too suggested If America had a “real president”, Russia would never have invaded Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukraine’s public broadcaster in November that the war would “quickly end” under the Trump administration, though he did not say how. Trump Allegedly Called Putin shortly after Election Day to advise the Russian president not to escalate the war, and in private conversations, Trump indicated he would support a peace deal where Russia would return territory seized during the conflict. will control. In May 2024, Putin said he would accept a ceasefire in Ukraine that would recognize the current front lines as Russian territory, although his proposal was shut down by Zelensky and US officials. Putin Allegedly He said he would talk to Trump about ending the war, though his demands remained unchanged. Zelensky has proposed a peace plan that calls for Russia to restore Ukraine’s territorial integrity and withdraw all its troops.
Further reading
