Kremlin Official Announces Russia’s Watchful Monitoring of Trump’s Sanctions Threats
Trump stated that he would implement more economic sanctions against Russia in response to the ongoing war.
The Kremlin spokesman mentioned that the Russian government is closely monitoring the recent threats of sanctions proposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Following his inauguration, Trump took to Truth Social to voice that unless Russian President Vladimir Putin resolves the conflict in Ukraine, there will be economic repercussions.
Specifically, Trump stated that if no agreement is reached to end the conflict, the United States will impose high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on Russian exports to various participating countries.
Trump did not specify the countries that may be subjected to penalties by the United States.
Regarding this, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Pesktov remarked that Trump had previously imposed sanctions on Russia during his initial term in office.
“We do not see anything particularly new here,” he told reporters. “He has a tendency to use these methods, as he did during his previous presidency,” he stated.
Moscow is closely monitoring all statements made by Trump, according to Peskov.
“We carefully note all the details. We are prepared for dialogue; President Putin has emphasized this repeatedly—for an equal and mutually respectful dialogue,” he noted.
In the aftermath of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Biden administration imposed severe sanctions on various Russian industries, including energy, banking, defense, and manufacturing sectors.
Throughout his 2024 campaign and following his election victory, Trump has consistently expressed his desire to swiftly resolve the Russia–Ukraine conflict, initially suggesting that he would aim to end it within 24 hours.
Recently, Trump mentioned that one of his immediate priorities is to discuss the conflict with Putin, accusing the Russian leader of causing harm to Russia.
“It’s likely he’s not pleased, he’s not doing well,” Trump mentioned while signing executive orders at the White House. When comparing Russia to Ukraine, he added, “Russia is larger, they have more soldiers at stake, but this is not a sustainable approach to governing a country.”
When asked about the duration of the conflict, Trump stated that he cannot predict how long it will last until he speaks with President Putin.
A day later, Trump stated during a press conference that he estimates Russia has lost approximately 800,000 soldiers in the conflict so far, while Ukraine has suffered losses between 600,000 and 700,000.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted to NBC News that Trump aims to cease the casualties in Ukraine.
“Will it be complex? Undoubtedly, as each side will need to make concessions,” Rubio remarked.
Aside from the Ukraine conflict, a different Russian official cautioned the United States against reclaiming the Panama Canal following Trump’s suggestion of asserting control over the vital waterway.
“Russia has been part of the protocol since 1988 and confirms its commitment to upholding the Panama Canal’s permanent neutrality, advocating for the safety and openness of this international transit route,” mentioned Alexander Shchetinin, head of the Latin American department at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, asserting that the canal legally belongs to Panama.
Reuters contributed to this report.