World waits for Trump's 'major statement', will he announce sanctions on Russia?

Hours ahead of the promised “major statement” on Monday, the world is wondering whether US President Donald Trump has finally endorsed the bipartisan proposal of tough sanctions on Russia and sky-high tariffs on Russia’s trading partners.

However, considering Trump’s aversion to sanctions and concerns about displeasing Russian leader Vladimir Putin, chances are that he could announce the supply of offensive weapons to Ukraine and avoid imposing fresh sanctions.

In recent days, Trump has increasingly expressed frustration with Putin over the Russian leader constant refusing to seek an end of the war and continuously attacking Ukrainians civilians. In recent months, Russia has attacked Ukraine with hundreds of drones and missiles on a near-daily basis.

ALSO READ: With Russia’s terms to Ukraine, Putin seeks surrender — not a peace deal

However, Trump has not taken any action to punish Ukraine, but Ukraine’s supporters are hopeful that recent frustration and statements could finally translate into some punishment for Russia and help for Ukraine.

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Trump has announced that the United States will provide Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine. He also slammed Putin and said he was “very disappointed” with the Russian leader.

“I thought he was somebody that meant what he said and he’ll talk so beautifully and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that,” Trump further said on Sunday.

What sanctions can Trump impose on Russia?

Trump has a readymade bipartisan proposal for sanctions on Russia and secondary sanctions on Russia’s partners like China and India.

The proposed law, which has been endorsed by 85 Republican and Democrat senators, has sought to impose tariffs up to 500 per cent on all Russian goods and all goods from those countries that buy Russian goods, such as oil, gas, and uranium.

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The idea behind the bill is to hit Russia’s ability to wage war on Ukraine by cracking down its revenue from foreign trade.

The bill seeks to impose tariffs up 500 per cent on “all goods or services imported into the United States” on a country that “knowingly sells, supplies, transfers, or purchases oil, uranium, natural gas, petroleum products, or petrochemical products that originated in the Russian Federation”.

ALSO READ — **Russia now economically dependent on China, has little strategic leverage since Ukraine War: Study**

In addition to tariffs, the bill has sought sanctions on top Russian officials, including the president, the prime minister, the army chief, military chief, top state-owned companies, etc.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, the sponsor of the bill, has repeatedly singled out India while mentioning the bill. He has dubbed the bill a “a sledgehammer available to President Trump to go after Putin’s economy, and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine”.

“China, India, and Brazil buy oil and petroleum products and other goods from Russia. That’s the money Putin uses to prosecute the war. And this congressional package that we’re looking at would give President Trump the ability to impose 500 per cent tariffs on any country that helps Russia, and props up Putin’s war machine. He can dial it up or down. He can go to 0 per cent, to 500 per cent. He has maximum flexibility. But we’re going after the people who keep Putin in business and additional sanctions on Russia itself,” Graham told CBS News on Sunday.

Trump expected to announce arms package for Ukraine

Instead of sanctions and tariffs, Trump is most likely going to announce an arms package for Ukraine.

Trump on Sunday said that the United States will send “very sophisticated” military equipment to Ukraine in addition Patriot air defence systems.

Trump will meet Nato chief Mark Rutte on Monday and an announcement is expected during or after the meeting of two leaders.

Axios reported that Trump will announce a new arms package to Ukraine and quoted two sources as saying that the package could introduce long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow.