Trump Threatens Russia with New Sanctions Over Missile Strikes in Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a sharp warning to Russia, accusing Moscow of deliberately targeting Ukrainian civilian areas and threatening to impose new financial sanctions unless Russian military actions cease.
Posting on Truth Social after a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky at the Vatican, Trump criticized Russia's recent surge of missile strikes, suggesting President Vladimir Putin may not genuinely desire an end to the ongoing conflict.
"There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas over the last few days. Maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war," Trump wrote, hinting at the possibility of “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions” against Moscow."Too many people are dying!!!" he added.
Tensions Rise Despite Ongoing Negotiations
The escalation in rhetoric comes just days after Russian President Putin reiterated his country’s readiness for unconditional peace talks during a recent meeting with Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff.
While Moscow maintains that its strikes only target military and dual-use facilities, Western leaders — including Trump — have accused Russia of intentionally damaging civilian infrastructure to prolong the conflict.
"We only strike military targets or civilian sites being used by Ukrainian forces," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier this week in an interview with CBS News.
Post-Easter Ceasefire: A Fragile Pause Ends
Following a brief Easter ceasefire initiated by Moscow, fighting resumed with long-range Russian strikes targeting Ukrainian military depots and industrial sites. Ukraine reported damage to several cities, but specific casualty numbers remain unclear.
Trump’s frustrations highlight the growing skepticism in Washington regarding Moscow's sincerity in negotiations — a process Trump has sought to lead toward a comprehensive peace settlement.
Trump's Broader Criticism: Media Bias and Peace Deal Skepticism
In the same Truth Social post, Trump also criticized the New York Times and reporter Peter Baker, accusing the outlet of preemptively undermining any peace deal he might broker.
"No matter how good the deal is, even if it’s the greatest deal ever made, The Failing New York Times will speak badly of it," Trump claimed, rejecting calls for Ukraine to reclaim lost territories such as Crimea.
Trump reiterated that the Ukraine conflict would have never erupted under his previous administration, blaming current instability on the failures of his predecessors.