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On Saturday, April 26, 2025, US President Donald Trump suggested imposing stricter sanctions on Russia, expressing skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s desire to end the war with Ukraine.
In a Truth Social post, Trump condemned Putin’s recent missile strikes on Ukrainian civilian areas, stating, “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities, and towns over the last few days.”
He questioned Putin’s commitment to peace, adding, “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war; he’s just stringing me along, and we need to handle this differently, perhaps through banking or secondary sanctions. Too many people are dying!!!” Vice President JD Vance amplified the message by sharing Trump’s post on X.
As clarified through research, secondary sanctions target foreign entities doing business with sanctioned parties, such as Russian banks or companies, even if those transactions do not involve the US. These measures extend US economic pressure globally by discouraging third-party dealings with Russia (Sanctions Explained).
Trump’s comments followed a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome, their first in-person encounter since a heated Oval Office discussion on February 28, 2025, which had escalated into a shouting match over US support and peace efforts. The Rome meeting held just before Pope Francis’s funeral was described by the White House as “very productive,” though no specific details were shared. Zelenskyy called it a “good” and “very symbolic” meeting, noting, “It has the potential to become historic if we achieve joint results.”
Push for a Peace Deal
Trump’s remarks are part of his ongoing effort to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Earlier that week, he proposed a deal recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, a condition Zelenskyy has firmly rejected as a non-negotiable “red line.” On Friday, April 25, 2025, Trump claimed on Truth Social that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal” and urged high-level talks to “finish it off,” asserting, “Most of the major points are agreed to.” However, the Crimea issue remains a significant obstacle.
In an unexpected move, Trump recognized in his post on Saturday that Russia “took” Crimea from Ukraine, which is the illegal annexation of 2014.
He accused the past President of the US, Barack Obama, and stated, “He made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired.”
However, in early April 2025, Trump’s comments to TIME magazine suggested that “Crimea will stay with Russia,” adding, “Zelenskyy understands that, and everybody understands that it’s been with them for a long time. It’s been with them long before Trump came along.” Zelensky swiftly countered, reiterating that Crimea belongs to Ukraine.
The Rome meeting followed a strained Oval Office encounter where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelenskyy for not showing enough gratitude for US aid and for resisting peace talks with Russia. The February 2025 meeting, meant to discuss a U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, highlighted ongoing tensions in U.S.-Ukraine relations, making the Rome discussion a critical moment for diplomacy.