Trump defends new sanctions on Russia, but hopes the measures will not last too long

The president of the USA, Donald Trump, stated that “it was time” to impose sanctions on Russia, but said he hoped the measures would not last too long, in comments to journalists, this Wednesday, 22. The speeches took place after the meeting with the secretary general of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Mark Rutte.

“The sanctions against Russia are big, but I think the president of Russia, Vladimir Putin, wants to end the war”, he pondered, adding that “it doesn’t seem right” to meet with the Russian leader. “Talks with Putin are positive, but not progressing.”

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According to the republican, both Russia and Ukraine want peace for the conflict in Eastern Europe, and a peace agreement between the countries should be easier to reach, but the “level of hatred” between Putin and the president of Ukraine, Volodymir Zelensky “is substantial”. “The sanctions must have an impact on Russia. We hope they will make Putin more ‘reasonable’,” he said.

Regarding the US government shutdown, Trump said that “some Democrats want to make a deal”, without providing further details.