Trump threatens Russia with new sanctions for ‘pounding’ Ukraine

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump has said he is considering new sanctions on Russia following a wave of attacks on Ukraine.

The president said in a Friday post on Truth Social: “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED. To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late. Thank you!!!”

Trump’s statement came hours after Russia launched a massive overnight missile and drone assault on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Ukrainian Energy Minister Herman Halushchenko described the attack as a “massive missile and drone” barrage in a statement on Facebook. Authorities reported that at least 10 people, including a child, were wounded in the strikes.

“Russia is deliberately targeting energy and gas production facilities, aiming to plunge us into darkness and cold,” Halushchenko wrote. “Its goal is to inflict the greatest suffering on ordinary Ukrainians.”

The Kremlin has repeatedly battered Ukraine’s power grid since the start of the war, crippling electricity generation and disrupting essential heating and water supplies. Ukrainian officials have long accused Moscow of “weaponizing winter” to break civilian morale, a strategy that has intensified as the conflict drags on.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump said India had agreed to cut tariffs ‘way down.’ He said this while speaking to reporters in the Oval Office. Trump’s statement comes after India earlier in the day said the two sides were negotiating a multi-sector trade deal to tackle tariff and non-tariff barriers and increase market access. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson was responding to questions on Trump’s threat to hit trade partners with reciprocal tariffs from April 2.