President Donald Trump is looking for a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine, but Trump’s offer includes threats of economic punishment if Putin does not respond with sufficient enthusiasm.
Trump’s message on his Truth Social account today began with important recognition and praise of Russia: “I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin—and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process.”
Trump then delivered his “or else:” “All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. 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. Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way—and the easy way is always better. It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.’ NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!”
TASS notes in its coverage of Trump’s statement that Putin said earlier that Moscow was open to dialogue on the Ukraine conflict with the new U.S. administration, with the priority being to address the root causes of the crisis. He confirmed that Russia was taking note of statements by Trump and his team members about their willingness to restore contact and the need to do everything possible to prevent World War III.
