United States President Donald Trump on Wednesday said he will address the Ukraine issue “in the coming days,” after being pressed on the deadline he had given Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt hostilities. “I will talk to him in a few days,” Trump stated, but did not clarify whether he was referring to Putin or Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. When asked to elaborate, the president added, “I’ll know what to do with Russia” following those conversations.
The remarks build on Trump’s earlier warning that “things will happen” if he is not satisfied with Putin’s decisions on Ukraine, raising speculation of heightened U.S. pressure on Moscow.
Hints at new phases of oil sanctions
Alongside his comments on Ukraine, Trump also hinted that Washington could tighten sanctions on Russian oil exports in the coming months, signaling the possibility of a second and third phase of restrictions. Speaking at the White House, he said, “If I’m unhappy with Putin, things will happen,” a clear indication that his administration is weighing fresh measures.
The United States and its allies have already capped Russian crude prices and restricted shipping and insurance services tied to Moscow’s exports. Any additional rounds of sanctions could expand to cover refined oil products, secondary trade routes, and shipping networks that have been used to circumvent existing restrictions.
Context of U.S. strategy
Trump’s remarks come as Washington continues its dual approach of supporting Ukraine while trying to constrain Russia’s financial capacity to wage war. The oil sanctions remain a critical pillar of U.S. policy, aimed at squeezing Moscow’s revenues while stabilizing global energy markets.
Analysts note that any escalation could unsettle crude prices worldwide, particularly if refined products or shadow fleet shipments are targeted, potentially tightening supply chains further.
Would you like me to also prepare a “market impact” version of this piece, focusing on how these comments could affect global oil prices and energy stocks?
