Trump Says Putin is a ‘Professional’ Handling Sanctions Amid Ukraine Conflict
During a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that Putin has demonstrated a ‘professional’ ability to manage Western sanctions. However, Trump warned that further pressure could be imposed if the Ukraine conflict is not resolved. The discussion, which lasted an hour, touched on the Ukraine conflict, Middle East instability, and potential US-Russia cooperation. Trump expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of progress in achieving peace.
US lawmakers, including Senator Lindsey Graham, are pushing for stringent sanctions on Russia, including a 500% tariff on energy imports from countries that continue to buy Russian oil. Graham has publicly supported moving the bill to a vote, with Trump reportedly endorsing the move. Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov noted that Trump raised the issue of ending hostilities, emphasizing Moscow’s openness to a political solution while reaffirming its commitment to its goals. Meanwhile, Russian officials have criticized the sanctions as ‘illegal’ but have praised Russia’s economic resilience, highlighting increased domestic production as a result.