U.S. President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he will likely impose new sanctions against Russia if Vladimir Putin doesn’t agree to enter negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine, Reuters reports. He did not specify what kind of sanctions he was referring to.
“We’re talking to [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelensky, we’re going to be talking with President Putin very soon,” Trump reportedly said.
The newly inaugurated president also said that “Russia never would have gone into Ukraine” if he had been president instead of Joe Biden:
I had a very strong understanding with Putin. That would have never, ever happened. He disrespected Biden. Very simple. He disrespects people. He’s smart. He understands. He disrespected Biden.
Trump added that his administration is currently looking at sending weapons to Ukraine, but said the European Union should be doing more to support Ukraine.