Donald Trump has said ‘enough’ in his relationship with Vladimir Putin. With all the caution required by the US president’s pendulous speech, he is preparing to launch a new sanctions package against Moscow. Without giving details, it will mean a “substantial increase“, in the words of Scott BessantSecretary of the Treasury.
The announcement came during the reception that Trump offers to the Secretary General of NATO at the White House. In Mark Rutte’s umpteenth visit, the US has taken another step in its policy with Russia. The before the Russian refusal to stop the war in Ukraine it has been the ‘straw that breaks the camel’s back’. At least for today.
“We will announce after closing this afternoon or first thing tomorrow morning a substantial increase in sanctions on Russia“, Bessent indicated in the same White House.
Hours after Trump clears up doubts, so far The US has punished more than 6,000 people and entities associated with the Russian war industry, although most were produced during Joe Biden’s term. Trump’s return marked a change in rhetoric and in the tough policy against Moscow, going so far as to close units dedicated to sanctions for the war in Ukraine.
However, recently Washington has given striking stepspromising His message was accompanied by a trademark statement: “If NATO does what I say, the war will end quickly and all those lives will be saved. If not, you are just wasting my time, and America’s time, energy and money.”
Outside of NATO but as a relevant country, Trump acted shortly after against India for its commercial ties with Putin, imposing liens of up to 50% for this same matter.
More directly, in July The US directly threatened the Kremlin with special taxes if they did not move towards a ceasefire and/or a definitive peace in Ukraine, something that three months later it still hasn’t happened.
