Trump to Putin: ‘Stop the war in Ukraine now, immediate agreement needed’

The US president threatens tough sanctions and says he is ready to meet with the Russian leader to end the conflict. ‘I don’t want to harm Russia, but it’s time to stop this tragedy’

Donald Trump, President of the United States, has issued a direct appeal to Vladimir Putin, calling for an immediate halt to the war in Ukraine. In a message on Truth, Trump said: ‘Now is the time to reach an agreement to stop a conflict that will only get worse. If we don’t do it soon, I will be forced to introduce high-level taxes, duties and sanctions on anything sold by Russia to the US and other countries.’

Appeal for peace

Trump emphasised his desire to maintain good relations with Russia and Putin, also recalling the sacrifice of Russians during World War II. ‘I don’t want to hurt Russia. I love the Russians and have always had very good relations with Putin. But it is time to end this war, which would never have started if I had been president.’

The US president said he was convinced that a deal was possible and reiterated that Volodymyr Zelensky, president of Ukraine, would be ready to negotiate. ‘Zelensky wants peace, he told me clearly. Now it’s Putin’s turn to step forward. It takes two to tango,’ Trump commented.

Ready for new sanctions

Trump raised the possibility of new sanctions against Moscow if the Kremlin does not open up to dialogue: ‘It seems likely. Russia will be in big trouble: look at their economy, look at their inflation. They need a deal’.

The president also said he was ready to meet Putin personally: ‘I will meet Putin whenever he wants, but time is short. Let’s stop this war the easy way, because the hard way will be devastating for everyone’.

Dramatic human toll

Trump denounced the number of casualties in the conflict, saying that official figures underestimate the gravity of the situation. ‘Millions of people are dying in Ukraine, many more than reported. Cities are reduced to piles of rubble. Russia has lost around 800,000 soldiers, Ukraine 600-700,000. The war must stop’.

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