Trump Signals Possible Early US Secondary Sanctions on Russia Amid Ukraine Conflict

U.S. President Donald Trump has indicated that secondary sanctions against Russia could be imposed earlier than the 50-day deadline he initially set, contingent on progress in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. These secondary sanctions would target third parties conducting business with Russia, potentially affecting countries like China by imposing penalties such as 100% tariffs on goods entering the U.S. Trump’s announcement follows stalled peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, with Ukraine proposing a summit involving Trump, Putin, and Zelensky, which the Kremlin has yet to accept. While Trump has not confirmed any forthcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan plans to discuss organizing such talks. The sanctions aim to cut off Moscow’s oil revenue, a significant part of Russia’s federal budget, with the goal of pressuring Russia to cease hostilities. White House officials have emphasized close communication with the Senate on sanctions, though final decisions rest with Trump.