President Donald J. Trump said on Sunday that he is prepared to advance the next stage of sanctions against Russia, underscoring his administration’s efforts to pressure Moscow even as peace talks over the war in Ukraine remain at an impasse.
“Yeah, I am,” Mr. Trump said when asked whether he is ready to move forward with what he has called Phase 2 of the sanctions.
The remarks come as the president has bristled at suggestions from critics that his administration has been hesitant to act against Russia. Moscow has continued a campaign of drone strikes against Ukrainian cities, even as Mr. Trump has pushed for negotiations aimed at ending the conflict.
Mr. Trump defended his record, pointing to what he described as a significant initial measure that inflicted serious costs on Russia’s energy revenues. Asked last week why he had not taken stronger action against President Vladimir V. Putin, Mr. Trump rejected the premise outright.
“How do you know there’s no action?” he said. “Would you say that putting secondary sanctions on India — the largest purchaser outside of China, they’re almost equal — would you say there’s no action?”
The president was referring to the additional 25 percent tariffs his administration imposed on India for its purchases of Russian oil. He said the measure had already dealt a staggering blow to Moscow’s finances.
“That cost hundreds of billions of dollars to Russia,” Mr. Trump declared. “You call that no action? And I haven’t done Phase 2 yet or Phase 3.”
The sanctions strategy reflects the president’s belief that economic leverage, rather than open-ended military commitments, represents the best way to weaken Russia and compel negotiations. Mr. Trump has repeatedly said his objective is to “end the war, not prolong it,” stressing that fiscal pressure and diplomatic engagement are more effective than escalating U.S. military involvement in Eastern Europe.
Still, progress toward a negotiated settlement has slowed in recent weeks. The administration has sought to organize a direct meeting between Mr. Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
While both leaders have at times signaled openness, there has been little movement toward a concrete summit.
Mr. Trump has framed his approach as a clear contrast to what he characterizes as the failures of prior administrations to either deter Russia or secure peace in the region.
By linking sanctions to measurable financial consequences for Moscow, the president has sought to argue that his policy is both tough on Russia and pragmatic for the United States.
For now, the prospect of Phase 2 sanctions looms as a key element of Mr. Trump’s leverage. Though he declined to detail the precise measures under consideration, his comments signal that further restrictions — possibly targeting Russia’s remaining energy markets or financial institutions — are on the table.
Whether such steps will spur progress in peace talks remains uncertain. But the president made clear on Sunday that he is ready to act.
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