We are in week one of the new presidency and it feels like year two already. Trump seems to have sent a veiled spread to dictator Putin.
“Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries.”
Joe Biden, in his four years as president, unleashed a series of sanctions, in coordination with other allies, on Russia. The US import approximately $2.8 billion worth of goods from Russia per year. That might sound like a lot, but it’s not really. So levying tariffs on Russia, might not increase that much additional pressure for Russia to come to a deal. And what does he mean by participating countries? Does he expect these countries, whoever they are, to impose on Russia as well.
This is how Russia reacted to the statement by Trump.
“We have to see what does the ‘deal’ mean in President Trump’s understanding. “He is not responsible for what the U.S. has been doing in Ukraine since 2014, making it ‘anti-Russia’ and preparing for the war with us, but it is in his power now to stop this malicious policy.”
If Russia does not change current tactics, even after the imposition of these threatened tariffs, what would be Trump‘s next step? This statement by Trump could indicate that he is not willing to sell out to Ukraine after all. But with Trump, who knows.
All I got for today.