Trump says considering imposing banking sanctions, tariffs on Russia until ceasefire

Last week, the US President was part of a tense Oval Office encounter with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who sought to shore up support from Trump as the war in Ukraine rages on. The meeting, which shifted between moments of politeness and heated exchanges, exposed the widening rift between the two leaders and underscored the complexity of navigating international relations amid a prolonged conflict.

Trump, who has repeatedly pushed for an end to the war and questioned US involvement, made it clear that he wanted a quick resolution, even as Zelenskyy warned that an abrupt ceasefire could embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to rearm and reignite the conflict. In the Oval Office, Trump’s frustration boiled over as he pressed Zelenskyy to accept the inevitability of a peace deal — on terms that Kyiv fears would be too lenient toward Moscow.

US President Donald Trump posts, “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… pic.twitter.com/VjEjYXbV78

— ANI (@ANI) March 7, 2025

Trump’s remarks laid bare his scepticism toward Zelenskyy, whom he had labelled a “dictator” just days earlier. The US President appeared to blame Ukraine for prolonging the conflict, even though Russia’s invasion in 2022 was widely condemned as an act of unprovoked aggression. For Trump, the conflict represented an unacceptable drain on US resources — a point he repeatedly emphasized during the tense exchange.

“You’re gambling with World War III,” Trump told Zelenskyy, pointing to the escalating death toll in the conflict. He questioned why the Ukrainian president was not more open to a ceasefire, which Trump believed could prevent further bloodshed.

–With inputs from agencies