Donald Trump Urges Russia to Strike a Deal to End the War in Ukraine, Threatening Severe Sanctions

U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday, January 22, 2025, called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine by reaching an agreement with Kyiv. Failing that, he threatened to impose new sanctions, high taxes, and tariffs on Russian exports to the United States and other allied countries.

“It’s time to strike a deal. No more lives should be lost!” he wrote on his Truth Social platform. The president added, “I’m not looking to harm Russia. I love the Russian people and have always had a good relationship with President Putin.”

During his inauguration, Donald Trump had already expressed concern over the diplomatic deadlock: “[Volodymyr] Zelensky wants a deal. I’m not sure if Putin does, but he should. By refusing to reach a settlement, he is endangering Russia and destroying his own country.”

Speaking to reporters from the Oval Office, Trump emphasized the economic toll on Moscow: “Look at the economy, the inflation. They planned a one-week war in 2022, and here we are three years later.”

A staunch advocate of transactional diplomacy, the U.S. president concluded, “I get along well with Vladimir Putin, and I hope he will seize this opportunity to end the tragedy.”