Donald Trump has threatened to “devastate” the Russian economy if Vladimir Putin does not accept a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.
Trump said that if the Russian leader snubs the 30-day peace deal, then the consequences would be “very bad”.
Issuing the ultimatum whilst speaking to reporters in Washington DC, the US President said: “There are things you could do that wouldn’t be pleasant, in a financial sense.
“I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia, would be devastating for Russia. But I don’t want to do that because I want peace.”
He issued the ultimatum whilst speaking to reporters in Washington DC
Reuters
Trump said that if the Russian leader snubs the 30-day peace deal, then the consequences would be ‘very bad’
Reuters
His comments followed reports that Putin would delay any deal that would hinder his forces on the battlefield.
Both America and Britain have urged the Russian President to agree to a peace deal in Ukraine, after Kyiv approved of a 30-day ceasefire following hours of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday.
Trump said he believes he could pressure Putin into a deal, but hopes “it’s not going to be necessary”.
Speaking in the Oval Office, he said that he previously believed that “Ukraine might have been the more difficult party”, but has stressed “it is up to Russia now”.
Kyiv approved of a 30-day ceasefire following hours of talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Tuesday
REUTERS
“Hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia… that would be 80 per cent of the way to getting this horrible blood bath [to end].”
Following hours of talks in Jeddah, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio claimed the “ball is now in Russia’s court,” and stressed that he hoped “Russia will answer yes as quickly as possible”.
Volodymyr Zelensky said he will be willing to accept a deal, however the US must convince Russia to accept it as well.
He said: “Russia must show its readiness to end the war or continue the war. It is time for the full truth.”
More to follow…