Trump threatens Russia with 'bone-crushing sanctions' if it rejects peace deal
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
In an interview with NBC News, US President Donald Trump suggested he may sign Senator Lindsey Graham's proposed bill introducing new sanctions against Russia. He said the decision would depend on whether the Kremlin moves toward a peace agreement with Ukraine.
During the conversation, Trump was asked whether he would sign the sanctions bill if the situation escalates to the point where the US pulls out of negotiations. He responded:
"Well, it depends on whether or not Russia is behaving toward coming to a peace. We want a peace deal. We want Russia and Ukraine to agree to a deal. We think we're fairly close, and we’re going to save a lot of people from being killed. Going to save a lot of money, too," said the US President.
He noted that both the United States and Europe are spending heavily on the war, adding that the issue is even more critical for Europe than for Washington. Trump again criticized Biden, claiming he was just sending money without understanding what was really happening.
"Biden had no control. He just sent money over there willy-nilly; nobody had any idea what was happening, why they were doing it, why they were sending it. And it was massive amounts of money," Trump concluded.
Graham's sanctions bill
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham recently announced that a majority of senators support a bill imposing "bone-crushing" sanctions against Russia and the buyers of its oil and gas if Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin refuses to enter serious peace talks over Ukraine. According to Graham, a Trump ally, the bill has the support of 72 senators.
The proposed sanctions include a 500% tariff on imports from countries that purchase Russian oil, petroleum products, natural gas, or uranium. Other measures would ban US citizens from buying Russian sovereign debt.
"I want a negotiated end to the war, honorably and just. I think Trump's the best person to achieve that goal, but these sanctions represent the Senate's view that we see the primary bad guy as Russia," Graham said.
