US President Donald Trump said he is prepared to introduce a new round of sanctions against Russia after its recent deadly strike on Ukraine, which was the largest air attack since the war started.
When reporters asked if he is ready to start the “second stage” of sanctions, Trump confirmed that he is.
Speaking briefly on the White House lawn before heading to the US Open in New York City, Trump did not give details about what this next stage of sanctions would include.
Earlier, before his Alaska summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump had warned about new sanctions and tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil.
These measures are aimed at reducing Russia’s income, which has helped it survive the current Western sanctions.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko welcomed Trump’s comments, saying the latest attack shows the need to stop Russia’s war machine, which is fueled by oil and gas revenue.
She added that stronger sanctions would be very important as Ukrainian citizens continue to suffer from daily attacks.
Even though Trump appeared hopeful about peace after meeting Putin in Alaska, Russia has continued its attacks on Ukraine.
Recently, Russia launched at least 810 drones and decoys in a single assault, killing at least four people and injuring 44. For the first time, Ukraine’s central government building in Kyiv was hit.
Ukraine said it managed to intercept over 745 drones and four missiles. Russia’s previous record attack was in July, when 728 drones were launched.
Svyrydenko said the government building’s roof and upper floors were damaged for the first time. She emphasized that while buildings can be rebuilt, lives lost cannot, and the world must respond with action, mainly by increasing sanctions on Russian oil and gas.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the “ruthless” attack and promised a suitable response. He recently declined Putin’s invitation to Moscow, saying that if Putin wants dialogue, he should come to Kyiv.
Zelensky also noted that Putin seemed more interested in meeting Trump than him, possibly to show his influence on the world stage.
Before his trip to the US Open, Trump had not spoken publicly about Russia’s latest attacks, only briefly commenting to reporters about the situation.
