Trump Threatens Russia with 'Second Stage of Sanctions'
Washington to Increase Pressure on Moscow Over Ukrainian Conflict
US President Trump has threatened to move to a second round of sanctions against Russia following a major airstrike on Ukrainian targets.
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Donald Trump said he was ready to move to a second round of sanctions on Russia, just hours after Moscow launched its biggest air strike of the conflict with Ukraine, Sky News reports.
As he headed into the US Open tennis final, the president was asked if he was ready to move on to the second stage of punishing Moscow, to which Trump replied, "Yes."
Let us recall that earlier Donald Trump, who had already introduced 50 percent duties as punishment for India’s purchase of Russian oil, hinted at the possibility of a second and third stage of pressure on Russia.
His latest threat echoes the views of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said that additional economic pressure from the United States and Europe could encourage Moscow to start peace talks with Ukraine, Sky News reports.
"We're ready to increase the pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow suit," Treasury Secretary Scott said in an interview on NBC News' "Meet the Press."
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the latest attack showed Russian leaders were "not serious about peace" and joined other allies in condemning Russia's actions.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said the latest military offensive showed that any "attempts to appease" Moscow were "pointless".
"The US and Europe must work together to force Russia to agree to an immediate ceasefire. We have all the tools," Tusk said on Saturday.
Meanwhile, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Kremlin was "making a mockery of diplomacy."
The drone and missile attack on Ukraine came after European countries demanded that Russian leaders work to end the war at a virtual meeting of the "coalition of the willing" - a group of countries led by France and Britain seeking to help defend Kyiv in the event of a ceasefire, Sky News reports.
Some 26 of Ukraine's allies have pledged to provide security guarantees as part of a "security force" for the conflict-torn country once the fighting stops, French President Emmanuel Macron said.
Kiev leader Volodymyr Zelensky said he was ready to meet President Putin to negotiate a peace deal and called on US President Donald Trump to impose tough sanctions on Russia to push it to end hostilities, Sky News reports.
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