If a deal to stop the war in Ukraine is not achieved, US President Donald Trump has vowed to impose harsh taxes, tariffs, and penalties on Russia. Since the invasion started about three years ago, Russia has been subject to several US and European sanctions, and the US already forbids the import of almost all Russian goods. Mr. Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to “settle now and stop this ridiculous war” in a post on his Truth Social website on Wednesday.

He stated that he has no wish to harm Russia, which he highlighted played a significant role in securing victory for the Allies against Nazi Germany during WWII, and that he has a strong relationship with Mr Putin, but warned of the consequences if the war is not ended soon.

“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,” stated the president. Mr. Trump has been skeptical of the billions of dollars granted by the Biden administration to Ukraine in the form of weapons and other defense materials. He has frequently expressed his intention to stop the war, claiming on the campaign trail that he could end it within 24 hours of becoming office. That did not happen. Russia currently exports little to the US that could be subject to tariffs.

Oil had been Russia’s major export to the United States, but that trade was eliminated in 2023. According to US government figures, the US imported 2.8 billion dollars worth of these products from Russia in 2024, a small proportion of overall US imports and a significant decrease from 4.5 billion dollars in 2023 and 14.4 billion dollars in 2022. And Russia is already one of the world’s most highly sanctioned countries. Many of these sanctions are related to the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine and were issued by President Joe Biden, but others precede him. Some were imposed during Trump’s first term in office, while others trace back to Russia’s 2014 invasion of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. In addition,

President Donald Trump looks on during a news conference in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)