WASHINGTON DC – US President Donald Trump reiterated on Sunday that he is prepared to impose new sanctions on Russia – but with a significant caveat. Speaking to reporters, Trump made it clear that any action from the US would be contingent on a more robust response from European nations and NATO allies.
“Europe is buying oil from Russia. I don’t want them to buy oil,” Trump emphasized. “And the sanctions that they’re putting on are not tough enough. I’m willing to do sanctions, but they’re going to have to toughen up their sanctions commensurate with what I’m doing,” he added.
This stance, which ties US action to a collective response, is a recurring theme for Trump, who has long criticized NATO allies for what he claims is a failure to contribute sufficiently to shared security.
“They’re not doing the job. NATO has to get together. Europe has to get together,” Trump said, complaining that “We can’t be expected to be the only ones that are full bore.”
Prospects for peace talks
Trump has also weighed in on the possibility of a direct meeting between the two warring leaders. When asked about the prospects of the peace talks, he said that the hatred between Zelensky and Putin is “unfathomable.”
“They hate each other so much they can’t breathe,” he said, insisting that he is the key to bringing them together. “I think I’m going to have to do all the talking.”
While there is no confirmed meeting yet, Trump indicated there will be talks in the future: “There will be talks. Whether you call it a summit or just a get together, doesn’t matter, but I’ll probably have to get [involved]. They’re incapable of talking to each other.”
Trump calls Russia “aggressor”
Meanwhile, the human toll of the war was a significant point of emphasis for Trump. He cited a staggering number of casualties, stating, “almost 8,000 young soldiers died this week between the two countries... it was a little bit more than [that] – 8,017 actually – died this week in that war.”
While Trump has been at times hesitant to directly label Russia as the aggressor, he has not shied away from the term. “You know, when you’re the aggressor, you lose more. I don’t know if you know that, but in war, when you’re the aggressor, you tend to lose more.”
He added these thoughts: “Why? And they’re Russians. They’re not American soldiers, but they’re still human beings. They’re souls, and I want to stop them.”
Congressional criticism
Trump’s statements on NATO allies and his handling of the conflict drew a sharp response from Capitol Hill. Congressmember Adam Smith (D-WA), the ranking Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, offered a starkly different view on the situation.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, Smith said that the trade war with China is a separate issue from the conflict in Ukraine, noting that tariffs are unlikely to have a significant impact on the situation with Russia. “I don’t think tariffs on China are going to make a substantial difference in the conflict in Russia,” Smith said.
He emphasized the need for unity among the US and its NATO allies in their support for Ukraine. And Trump “needs to be clearer that Putin started this war,” he said, adding “this is Russia’s war in Ukraine.”
Smith rejected Moscow’s claims of having legitimate security concerns that would justify its invasion of Ukraine. “Russia has no legitimate security concerns that would cause them [sic] to invade Ukraine. They started this war. They need to end it,” he said.
Smith also criticized what he sees as Trump’s inconsistent approach, suggesting it sends the wrong message to Putin. “I think President Trump needs to be a lot clearer on that point and then make it clear that we’re going to support Ukraine, and then yes, use more economic sanctions. Put pressure on Russia and Putin, instead of putting all the pressure on Zelensky,” he concluded.
Trump’s past track record and future threats
Despite his bold pronouncements, Trump’s past track record on Russia has been a source of contention.
During his previous term, critics frequently accused him of being too lenient on Moscow, and his threats of sanctions often failed to materialize.
His latest comments have reignited the debate over the most effective way to manage the conflict and deter Russian aggression.
Speaking to Kyiv Post on Sunday, a congressional aide from the Republican party insisted that Trump’s focus on the shared humanity of the soldiers reflects his desire for a rapid end to the fighting, which he previously said would have been “an easy one” for him to solve.
As the conflict continues, the differing strategies put forth by Trump and his critics, such as Smith, highlight the ongoing struggle within Washington and among its allies over how to handle an increasingly more aggressive Russia.
For now, the path forward remains as uncertain as the peace talks Trump insists he alone can bring to fruition.