🇺🇸 🇷🇺 | Trump Issues Ultimatum to Putin: Massive Sanctions or Ceasefire by August 8

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President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to the Kremlin: agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine before August 8, or face a sharp escalation in economic sanctions and tariffs. According to U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker, these measures target not only Russia but also its main trading partners, including China, India, and Brazil.

Washington is threatening to impose secondary tariffs of up to 100%, and even as high as 500%, on any country that imports Russian oil or maintains economic ties with Moscow. The stated goal is clear: to suffocate the Kremlin’s financial sources and create a global economic isolation strong enough to force a strategic retreat.

This hardening stance reflects a bipartisan momentum in the U.S. Congress. Several senior senators from both the Republican and Democratic parties are backing legislation aimed at significantly expanding the White House’s authority to impose economic sanctions. The intent is not only to pressure Moscow but also to send a strong message to all economic players complicit in or neutral toward the conflict.

In this context, Whitaker did not hesitate to single out major powers such as China and India, arguing that their economic cooperation with Russia amounts to implicit support for the conflict. Initial tariff measures have already been announced, including a 25% increase on Indian imports — marking the beginning of an indirect trade war with geopolitical aims.

Trump thus positions himself as a crisis negotiator ready to impose a solution through economic pressure rather than military engagement. However, this strategy is not without risks: disruption of global markets, tensions with strategic allies, and potential backlash on the U.S. economy itself. The success of this operation will largely depend on America’s ability to strike a balance between maximum pressure and global stability.