EUROPEAN leaders are rushing to Washington for crunch talks after Donald Trump vowed to punish warmongering Vladimir Putin.
A brutal bombardment against Ukraine over the weekend has amplified calls for the White House to tighten the screws on Moscow’s war machine.
ReutersTrump has indicated he’s prepared to consider further sanctions[/caption]
ReutersUkraine was bombarded by Russian strikes over the weekend[/caption]
GettyTrump and Putin’s summit in Alaska ended with no peace deal[/caption]
Trump has indicated that he’s prepared to push ahead with fresh sanctions against Russia as the Kremlin’s relentless attacks continue unabated.
On Sunday, Putin unleashed savage bombardments against Ukraine that killed four people, including a two-month old baby.
The main government building in Kyiv was also damaged during the ferocious assault.
Trump has repeatedly pledged to bring the war to an end, but Russia’s intensifying drone strikes have made the prospect of a ceasefire seem distant.
Speaking on the White House lawn after this weekend’s attacks, Trump told reporters he’s “not happy with the whole situation”.
When asked if he was prepared to move to the “second phase” of punishment against Russia, he simply said “yes” – although it remains unclear what this would entail.
Trump previously pledged this summer to implement bruising sanctions against Moscow if a 50 day deadline for a peace agreement was not met – a time limit that was later cut to “10 to 12” days.
But this plan was shelved after a summit between Trump and Putin was arranged in Alaska, which ended with no further deal being struck.
A proposed trilateral summit with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky has not yet materialised amid Russia’s continued offensives in Ukraine.
European leaders are expected to head to Washington early this week to discuss plans to bring the war to an end.
Trump said: “Certain European leaders are coming over to our country on Monday or Tuesday individually.”
However, he did not specify who exactly would be coming for the crunch talks, and added that he also plans to speak to Putin soon.
It remains unclear what sanctions Trump plans to impose on Russia at this time.
But US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessant said additional sanctions on Moscow’s oil exports would push the Russian economy into “total collapse”.
He told NBC: “We are prepared to increase pressure on Russia, but we need our European partners to follow us.
“We are in a race now between how long can the Ukrainian military hold up, versus how long can the Russian economy hold up?”
He added: “And if the US and the EU can come in, do more sanctions, secondary tariffs on the countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in total collapse, and that will bring President Putin to the table.”
The US has already imposed a 50% tariff on imports from India because of the country’s purchases of Russian oil, offering a possible glimpse at what further sanctions could look like.
Sunday’s air strikes saw a staggering 805 drones and a dozen ballistic and cruise missiles launched against cities across Ukraine.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko told The New York Post that this “barbaric attack proved we have to do whatever it takes to stop Russian war machine fuelled by oil and gas revenue”.
She added: “We appreciate President Trump’s prompt reaction and a strong signal of readiness to impose secondary sanctions on Russia.
“This step is very important for Ukraine as our people continue to suffer every day from Russian strikes of increasing scale.
“We hope this decision comes effective soon.”
What could the latest sanctions be?
TRUMP’S patience with Vladimir Putin seems to be wearing thin, bringing the prospect of sanctions back to the table.
The White House’s messaging suggests that, if such measures were implemented, they would aim their fire at Russia’s lucrative oil industry.
As a critical cornerstone of the Russian economy, sanctions on petroleum exports would likely be devastating for Moscow.
Crucially, Trump has often floated the prospect of “secondary” sanctions to punish Russia.
This would involve not just sanctioning Moscow, but also other countries that buy Russian oil.
India has already been hit with 50% tariffs because New Delhi continues to purchase oil from Moscow.
Similar sanctions are likely if Trump follows through on this threats.
GettyEuropean leaders are set to meet with Trump this week[/caption]
GettySmoke rises as a boy crosses the road following a Russian strike[/caption]
GettyPeople look at a damaged residential apartment building where a fire breaks out after a Russian drone and missile attack[/caption]