Russia’s actions in Ukraine ‘disgusting’, says Trump, indicating new sanctions
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Rescuers carrying a body from the rubble of a Kyiv apartment building hit during Russian missile and drone strikes on Ukraine on July 31.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump said on July 31 that Russia’s actions in Ukraine were “disgusting” and indicated that new sanctions against Moscow were coming over its invasion of its neighbour.
“Russia – I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing. I think it’s disgusting,” Mr Trump told journalists.
He also said he would send his special envoy Steve Witkoff, currently in Israel, to visit Russia next.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has already met Mr Witkoff multiple times in Moscow, before Mr Trump’s efforts to mend ties with the Kremlin came to a grinding halt.
Washington has given Moscow until the end of next week to cease hostilities in Ukraine, under threat of severe economic sanctions.
Mr Trump reiterated the deadline on July 31.
“We’re going to put sanctions. I don’t know that sanctions bother him,” the US President said, referring to his Russian counterpart.
Mr Trump has previously threatened that new measures could mean “secondary tariffs” targeting Russia’s remaining trade partners, such as China and India. This would further stifle Russia, but would risk significant international disruption.
The US President began his second term with his own rosy predictions that the war in Ukraine – raging since Russia invaded its neighbour in February 2022 – would soon end.
In recent weeks, Mr Trump has increasingly voiced frustration with Mr Putin over Moscow’s unrelenting offensive.
On July 31, at least 16 people were killed, including a six-year-old boy, and more than 100 wounded during a pre-dawn wave of missile and drone strikes on Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv. AFP
