US President Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Russia, stating that if the ongoing war in Ukraine is not resolved promptly, he will impose high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on Russian exports. This statement, made on his social media platform Truth Social, is part of his growing pressure on Russia to negotiate a peace deal.

High Sanctions in the Event of Continued Conflict

In his post, Trump emphasized the choice facing Russian President Vladimir Putin: “We can do it the easy way, or the hard way,” he wrote, implying that a negotiated settlement would be far less painful than further economic sanctions. Trump threatened to enact severe economic penalties, targeting Russian exports to the US and other countries involved in the conflict. He also mentioned that he had a “very good relationship” with Putin and that he was doing him “a very big favour,” suggesting that diplomacy could still play a role in resolving the crisis.

However, experts believe this threat is unlikely to have a significant impact on Russia, as the US already imposes sweeping sanctions on Russian goods. Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russia has faced extensive restrictions on its economy, including a near-total ban on the import of most Russian products. This includes a freeze on oil exports, which were once one of Russia’s largest sources of revenue to the US. In fact, in 2023, oil trade with Russia was completely halted.

Limited Impact of Potential Sanctions

While Trump’s threat may draw attention, the effectiveness of such sanctions is debatable. Russia’s exports to the US are minimal, consisting mostly of limited goods like fertilizers, animal feed, and some raw materials, such as tin. Given these factors, the imposition of further tariffs or sanctions may have little economic impact on Russia but could strain international trade relations further.

In addition, Trump’s failure to fulfill his earlier campaign promise to end the war within 24 hours of taking office points to the complexity of the situation. It now appears that any potential resolution may take months rather than the immediate results initially expected.