Trump ready more Russia sanctions

Washington (dpa) — US President Donald Trump on Sunday signalled he was ready to increase pressure on Russia with a second phase of sanctions.

When asked by a journalist at the White House whether he was ready to enter the second phase of sanctions against Moscow, Trump said: “Yes,” without giving further details. It was initially unclear whether new sanctions would actually be imposed and, if so, when.

Trump had hinted days ago that plans were underway for a secondary and a tertiary phase of sanctions – on top of the additional 25% tariff on imports from India as punishment for the country’s purchase of Russian oil. He did not give further details.

The United States sees sanctions as a means of exerting pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to force him to the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine. So far, Trump’s diplomatic efforts in this regard have been unsuccessful.

Putin was recently accused of delaying a direct meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Several European officials, led by EU sanctions envoy David O’Sullivan, are travelling to Washington for a Monday meeting to discuss various forms of economic pressure on Russia, including new sanctions, a spokesman for the European Commission confirmed to dpa.

“We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us,” US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told US broadcaster NBC News on Sunday.

“And if the US and the EU can come in, do more sanctions, secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in full collapse and that will bring President Putin to the table,” Bessent added.

Russia relies on oil and gas revenues, a crucial source for financing its war against Ukraine.