Efforts to End the War in Ukraine
The US president has initiated steps to fulfill his promise of ending the war in Ukraine. He has started outlining a plan to achieve this goal as soon as possible, which includes imposing new tariffs on Russia if an agreement is not reached. This threat was made through his social network, where he stated that he would have no choice but to impose high levels of taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on everything Russia sells in the US and other participating countries.
Threats of Tariffs and Sanctions
The president’s threat of tariffs and sanctions is aimed at pressuring Russia to accept an agreement to end the conflict. He appealed directly to the Russian president, stating that ending the war would benefit Russia, given the current state of its economy. The US president warned that the situation would only get worse if the war continues.
Current Trade Between the US and Russia
Despite the threat of tariffs, trade between the US and Russia has been limited since the start of the war in Ukraine in February 2022. According to the latest data available, trade in goods and services between the two countries reached an estimated total of $20.2 billion in 2022. US exports were $4.5 billion, while imports totaled $15.7 billion, resulting in a trade deficit of $11.2 billion in favor of Russia.
Expectations and Negotiations
The US president’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia has asked for a period of 100 days to negotiate peace. The US has already imposed numerous sanctions against Russia, including restrictions on the oil sector and large Russian banks. The president has acknowledged that he is not seeking to harm the Russian country but believes it’s time to make a deal.
International Involvement
The president of Ukraine has stated that any peace force in Ukrainian territory should have the presence of American troops. He believes that none of the European countries have sufficient deterrence capacity and that the US is necessary to ensure a peaceful resolution. The Ukrainian leader has also warned that Ukraine will not allow an end to the conflict to be negotiated behind its back and needs security guarantees from its allies, especially the new White House.
Potential for Diplomatic Efforts
The Ukrainian president has not closed the door on a possible effort by the Chinese president to "nudge Putin toward peace." He believes that China is the only ally that can really influence Russia, given the dependence of the Russian economy on China. The end of the war should be a victory for the US president, not Putin, and the Ukrainian president is willing to advance along the diplomatic path if strong and irreversible security guarantees are provided.