Trump Denounces Russia’s Actions in Ukraine as ‘Disgusting’, Threatens Fresh Sanctions

US President Donald Trump launched a scathing rebuke of Russia’s military campaign in Ukraine on Thursday, labelling the Kremlin’s actions as “disgusting” and threatening further sanctions, following a Russian strike on Kyiv that killed at least 16 people.

Speaking to reporters, Trump stated emphatically:

“Russia – I think it’s disgusting what they’re doing. I think it’s disgusting.”

Diplomatic Shifts: Witkoff to Visit Moscow

President Trump also confirmed plans to dispatch his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, currently in Israel, to visit Russia next.

Witkoff has previously met with President Vladimir Putin on several occasions in Moscow, but such diplomatic engagements had ceased amid the worsening war and deteriorating US-Russia relations.

The visit signals a possible attempt to restart stalled diplomatic channels, albeit under a growing threat of Western penalties.

Deadline and Sanctions Threat

The United States has issued a deadline to Moscow, demanding it cease all hostilities in Ukraine by the end of next week, or face sweeping economic consequences.

Trump reiterated the ultimatum on Thursday and suggested that President Putin may be unmoved by sanctions:

“We’re going to put sanctions. I don’t know that sanctions bother him,” he admitted.

Still, the President insisted that a new round of measures is in the pipeline, which may include “secondary tariffs” aimed at countries continuing to engage in trade with Russia.

Potential Targets of Secondary Tariffs:

These measures, if enacted, are expected to further cripple the Russian economy, but could also reverberate across global markets, straining diplomatic ties with key US partners.

Trump’s Early Optimism vs Current Frustration

President Trump began his second term expressing confidence that the Russia-Ukraine conflict, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, would soon come to an end through diplomacy.

However, recent months have seen Trump increasingly vocal in his disappointment with Putin, as the Russian military maintains a relentless offensive across Ukraine.

Trump’s latest comments signal a sharp turn in tone:

“[Putin] just doesn’t stop. And now we’ve got innocent people dying in Kyiv again — that’s not a negotiation, it’s a massacre.”

Kyiv Under Attack

Thursday’s Russian airstrike on Kyiv, which claimed at least 16 lives, marks one of the deadliest assaults on the Ukrainian capital in recent weeks, underscoring the urgency behind international calls for restraint.

Casualty Figures from Thursday’s Strike:

The White House did not provide further details on the planned Moscow visit by Witkoff, nor on whether a direct meeting with Putin would be scheduled. However, analysts suggest that Trump’s envoy may attempt to deliver a final warning before the new sanctions are imposed.