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President Donald Trump called on Russia to make a deal to end its conflict with Ukraine, arguing that no more lives should be lost.
Trump shared the plea in a post to his Truth Social account on Wednesday, just two days after the start of his second term in the White House.
“I’m not looking to hurt Russia. I love the Russian people, and always had a very good relationship with President Putin – and this despite the Radical Left’s Russia, Russia, Russia HOAX. We must never forget that Russia helped us win the Second World War, losing almost 60,000,000 lives in the process, Trump began.
“All of that being said, I’m going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War! IT’S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE,” he continued.
Trump warned that taxes, tariffs and sanctions would be made against Russia if the war is not ended soon.
“If we don’t make a ‘deal,’ and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries,” he wrote.
The president argued that the war with Ukraine could be ended the “easy” way or the “hard” way.
“Let’s get this war, which never would have started if I were President, over with! We can do it the easy way, or the hard way – and the easy way is always better. It’s time to ‘MAKE A DEAL.’ NO MORE LIVES SHOULD BE LOST!!!” he concluded.
Trump told reporters in Mar-a-Lago before his inauguration that he has spoken with many world leaders since his November election victory, but has not yet spoken with Putin.
“But President Putin wants to meet. He’s said that even publicly, and we have to get that war over with. That’s a bloody mess,” Trump said of the war in Ukraine, according to The Hill.
No timeline was given regarding a meeting time with the Russian leader. Trump has repeatedly vowed to end the war between Russia and Ukraine as president which has lasted since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated at the time that Putin is open to discussion with Trump, but that no formal request has yet been made and that any meeting would likely come after Trump takes office, according to Reuters.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has welcomed Trump’s desire to end the war, speaking favorably about the new possibilities with a new leader in office.