Trump's public address to Putin (video)

US President Donald Trump calls on the Russian President to conclude a “deal” in the near future, otherwise threatening new sanctions.

“I don't want to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, I've always had a very good relationship with President Putin – and this despite the radical left in Russia and the attempt to interfere in the elections in 2016. We must not forget that Russia helped us win World War II, losing almost 60 million lives.

Regardless, I'm going to do Vladimir Putin and Russia, whose economy is failing, a big favor. Calm down and stop this ridiculous war! It will only get worse.

If we don't get a “deal” done soon, I will have no choice but to increase the level of tariffs, duties and sanctions on everything Russia sells to the US and other countries. Let's end this war that would never have started if I were president. We can do it the easy way or the hard way, but the easy way is always better. It's time to “make the deal.” People don't have to die anymore.”

Earlier, Trump expressed hope writes Time that contact with Putin will take place “very soon.” The day before, he also said that he was always ready to meet with the Russian leader. “Any time they want,” he told reporters at the White House when asked.

As the Russian President noted for his part, Moscow is open to dialogue with the new US administration on the Ukrainian conflict, “the most important thing is to eliminate the root causes of the crisis.” Putin confirmed that Russia takes into account the statements of Trump and his team about the desire to restore contacts, as well as the need to do everything to prevent a third world war.

Trump demanded that Russia end the war, threatening new sanctions and tariffs. Trump has leverage over Putin, the most powerful of which is oil. This is stated in an article by Yale School of Management professor Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and his colleague Stephen Tian:

“A fall in oil prices could be a blow to the Putin regime. Oil revenues are a key resource of the Russian economy. Trump’s promises to lower prices and increase US oil production by 3 million barrels per day threaten to reduce the world’s dependence on Russian oil, causing serious damage to the Russian economy.

Add to this the sanctions and export restrictions against Russian oil companies, and the economy, already weakened by falling gas revenues, will be on the verge of collapse. The ruble is falling, and there is nothing to compensate for the loss of the European gas market.

Economic pressure on Russia already proved effective during the Cold War, and Trump has the leverage to repeat this scenario. Without export earnings, Putin will have no means left to finance the war, which could lead to the collapse of his regime.”

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