Ukraine says Trump’s sanctions menace sends ‘sturdy sign’ to Russia

DAVOS, Switzerland (Reuters) (Reuters) – Ukraine praised U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday for threatening to impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia if it refuses to make a deal to finish the conflict in Ukraine and mentioned the remark despatched a “sturdy sign”. 

Trump, who has repeatedly mentioned he desires to halt the combating in Ukraine with out saying how, appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday to “cease this ridiculous conflict” and threatened to impose punitive measures if no deal is reached. 

“We do actually welcome such sturdy messages from President Trump and we imagine that he would be the winner. And we imagine that we now have a further likelihood to get new dynamic in diplomatic efforts to finish this conflict,” Ukraine’s International Minister Andrii Sybiha mentioned, talking in English at a dialogue panel in Davos, Switzerland.

Kyiv has lengthy urged its allies to impose more durable sanctions on Russia to boost the prices of the conflict for Moscow and to discourage it from enterprise any additional aggression. 

The Kremlin mentioned it noticed nothing significantly new in Trump’s menace, however that it was following intently “all nuances” in his rhetoric and remained open to dialogue. 

Requested about Trump’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov mentioned Trump had usually utilized sanctions on Russia throughout his first time period as president. 

Trump’s calls to finish the conflict as quickly as potential sparked fears in Kyiv and amongst European allies {that a} hasty deal may play into Russia’s fingers and entail Ukraine making main territorial and different concessions. 

Kyiv has repeatedly emphasised the significance of a deal that may produce a good and lasting peace.