Trump says he is ready for ‘phase 2 of Russia sanctions’ after Moscow conducts its largest air attack in Kyiv

US President Donald Trump said that he is ready to commence the second phase of sanctioning Russia after Moscow conducted its largest air attack on Ukraine. The remarks from Trump can be seen as a threat against Russia or its oil buyers in frustration over the war in Ukraine.

While Trump has often threatened sanctions on Moscow, he has withheld making such moves in a bid to pursue talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The remarks from Trump on Sunday reflect his frustration over his inability to organise a trilateral talks between him, Trump, Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

However, despite Trump’s warning, he fell short of saying he was committed to such a decision or what such a second phase might entail. Asked by a reporter at the White House if he is ready to move to the second stage of sanctions against Russia, Trump responded, “Yeah, I am.”

US rattled by attack on Ukraine

On Sunday, the United States’ Special Envoy to Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, said that Moscow’s latest strike on Kyiv did not signal that the former wants to diplomatically end its war in Ukraine.

“Russia appears to be escalating with the largest attack of the war, hitting offices of the UKR Cabinet in Kyiv,” Kellogg wrote on X, adding, “The attack was not a signal that Russia wants to diplomatically end this war.”

The strike, which occurred on Sunday, is being described as Russia’s largest air attack since the conflict started in 2022. Meanwhile, Trump has tried to find numerous ways to end the war in recent weeks. However, all those efforts led to little to no outcome.

Russia has continued to claim territory in costly grinding battles and maintained that it now occupies around 20 per cent of Ukraine.