By Enyichukwu Enemanna
The Kremlin has expressed dissatisfaction with United States President Donald Trump’s threat to impose new sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine.
Trump “liked sanctions” and used them often during his first presidential term, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told Russian media on Thursday. “We do not see any particular new elements here,” Peskov added.
Russian independent media outlet Meduza quoted Peskov as stating, “Russia is ready for an equal and careful dialogue with the United States, which we had during Trump’s first term.”
“We are waiting for signals that have not yet been received,” Peskov noted.
Trump had, on Wednesday, threatened to impose more sanctions and tariffs on Russia if President Vladimir Putin fails to make a deal to end the war in Ukraine, which started in 2022.
Russia’s President Putin has been waging a full-scale invasion of Ukraine for the past three years, in a brutal conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives on both sides as Kyiv’s forces resist the Kremlin’s assault.
“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,” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
“We can do it the easy way, or the hard way — and the easy way is always better,” Trump added.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly accused Russia of hiring North Korean soldiers to support Moscow, an allegation both countries have denied.
Last month, two wounded soldiers suspected to be North Koreans were captured by Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv has since indicated its willingness to exchange the soldiers as prisoners of war with detained Russians.
