President Donald Trump on Friday threatened new sanctions on Russia, including on its banking sector, in response to Moscow’s continued bombardment of Ukraine — a significant warning as he seeks to end the conflict.
The new threat was notable after weeks of conciliatory statements toward Russia and its President Vladimir Putin, including saying he was open to lifting sanctions.
Now, Trump says he could slap new, tougher sanctions on Russia in his bid to end the war.
“Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely “pounding” Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!” he went on.
It comes one week following an Oval Office blowup among Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Vice President JD Vance, which resulted in Zelensky being told to leave the White House. The US has since paused intelligence sharing and military aid to Ukraine.
On the battlefield: Russian forces launched a deadly aerial attack on Ukraine overnight, targeting energy facilities across the country, Ukrainian authorities said on Friday.
The missile and drone strikes killed at least two people and injured seven others in the southern Kherson region, officials said. Two people were wounded in the central Poltava region.
Damage to residential buildings and energy facilities was reported in several regions, including Kharkiv in the east, Odesa in the south and Ternopil in western Ukraine.
The attacks damaged natural gas production facilities, Ukraine’s state-run oil and gas firm Naftogaz said in a statement.
Naftogaz said Friday’s strikes were the 17th combined missile and drone attack on its facilities — the latest barrage in near-daily aerial attacks aimed at weakening Ukrainian defenses and degrading the country’s energy infrastructure during the harsh winter months.
CNN’s Daria Tarasova-Markina contributed reporting to this post.
