president donald trump threatened tariffs on Russian imports to the United States if a deal is not reached soon to end the war in Ukraine.

“I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love it russian peopleand he always had a very good relationship with President Putin, and that’s despite the deception of Russia, Russia and Radical Left Russia,” Trump wrote on Social Truth. “We must never forget that Russia helped us to win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 people. lives in the process.”

Trump continued: “All that said, I’m going to do Russia, whose economy is failing, and President Putin, a HUGE FAVOR. Settle in now and STOP this ridiculous war! It’s only going to get worse. Don’t do a ” agreement” and soon I have no choice but to place high levels of taxes, tariffs and sanctions on anything Russia sells to the United States. States and other participating countries.”

TRUMP PLANS 10% TARIFFS ON CHINESE IMPORTS IN FEBRUARY. 1

President Donald Trump delivers his inaugural address after being inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States on January 20, 2025 in Washington, DC (Chip Somodevilla/Pool/AFP via Getty Images/Getty Images)

“Let’s end this war, which would never have started if I were president!” Trump said. “We can do it the easy way, or the hard way, and the easy way is always better. It’s time to ‘MAKE AN OFFER’. NO more lives must be lost!!!”

Trump was asked in the Oval Office Tuesday evening if he would add additional sanctions on Russia Vladimir Putin he did not soon negotiate a ceasefire with Ukraine.

“It seems likely,” Trump replied, adding: “The war should never have started. If you had a competent president, which you don’t, the war would not have happened. The war in Ukraine would never have happened if I was president”.

“Russia would never have gone into Ukraine. I had a very strong understanding with Putin that would never, ever have happened,” Trump told reporters. “He disrespected Biden. Very simple. He doesn’t respect people. He’s smart. He understands. He disrespected Biden.”

On whether the US will continue to send military aid to Ukraine, Trump argued that the US contributed about $200 billion more to Kiev than the European Union.

Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during the Russian-Iranian meeting at the Grand Kremlin Palace on January 17, 2025 in Moscow, Russia. (Contributor/Getty Images/Getty Images)

RUSSIA CALLS ON TRUMP’S THREAT TO RESUME THE PANAMA CANAL

“We’re talking to (Ukrainian President Voldymyr) Zelensky. We’re going to talk to President Putin very soon. And we’ll see how everything goes,” Trump said, adding: “I think the European Union should be paying a lot more than they’re paying … It affects them more than it affects us. We have an ocean in between, right?”

“The European Union should match. We’re there for $200 billion more than the European Union. I mean, what are we, stupid? I guess the answer is yes, because they have to think about it,” he said.

The president was also asked when he would meet with Putin.

“Whenever they want, I’ll meet. I’d like it to be over,” Trump told reporters. “Millions of people are being killed – it’s a vicious situation. And now, mostly soldiers. Many people have been killed in the cities. They look like demolition sites, buildings, massive buildings bombed and falling. The thing about Ukraine is that a lot more people died than you reported.”

Ukrainian soldiers from the 28th Infantry Brigade take part in tactical training exercises wearing gas masks in a rural area of ​​Ukraine as the war between Russia and Ukraine continues on January 21, 2025. (Jose Colon/Anadolu via Getty Images/Getty Images)

Trump estimated that Russia has lost approximately 800,000 troops and between 600,000 and 700,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died in the conflict.

His comments echo those Trump made a day earlier from the Oval Office when he accused Putin of “destroying Russia.”

“I think he’s destroying Russia by not making a deal,” Trump told reporters Monday hours after his inauguration. “I think Russia is going to be in big trouble. Look at their economy. Look at the inflation in Russia. So I would, I hope, I’ll get along very well with him, and you know, I would. I hope he wants to make a deal.” .

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On Tuesday, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, Yuri Ushakov, told reporters that Moscow was “taking note” of Trump’s comments in the Oval Office, and that the Russians are “ready and open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukraine conflict”. according to the New York Times.

“If the relevant signals come from Washington, we will pick them up and be ready to hold negotiations,” Ushakov added.