Trump Threatens Putin With Sanctions: ‘He’s Playing With Fire’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump is considering new sanctions against Russia following a deadly aerial assault on Ukraine by Russian forces. While internal options for punitive measures have been prepared for weeks, Trump’s recent Truth Social post signals growing frustration with Vladimir Putin. Lawmakers and global leaders urge Trump to act decisively amid faltering peace efforts.
Trump’s Russia Sanctions Threat: Quick Looks
- New Measures Considered: Trump weighs sanctions after Ukraine bombardment
- Truth Social Warning: Trump says Putin is “playing with fire”
- Putin’s Escalation: 355 drones and missiles hit Ukrainian cities
- Bipartisan Pressure: Senators push for crippling financial restrictions on Moscow
- Macron Reacts: French President urges Trump to follow frustration with action
- Peace Talks Tension: Trump hesitant, fearing sanctions might derail negotiations
- Rubio’s Support: Secretary of State emphasizes value in continued dialogue
- Secondary Sanctions: Potential 500% tariffs on countries buying Russian energy
Trump Threatens Putin With Sanctions: ‘He’s Playing With Fire’
Deep Look
Trump Threatens Putin With Sanctions Over Ukraine Assault: “He’s Playing With Fire”
Washington, D.C. — President Donald Trump is weighing the implementation of sweeping new sanctions on Russia following an unprecedented aerial assault that saw hundreds of drones and missiles strike Ukrainian cities this past weekend, resulting in scores of civilian casualties.
While White House officials confirm that sanctions packages have been ready for several weeks, Trump had previously hesitated to sign off. But following Sunday’s missile barrage, the president told reporters he would “absolutely” consider new sanctions. On Tuesday, Trump escalated the rhetoric with a sharp warning to Vladimir Putin on his Truth Social platform.
“What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!” — Donald Trump, Truth Social, May 27, 2025
Mounting Pressure After Ukraine Bombardment
Russia’s most intense aerial campaign in the three-year war began Friday and peaked Sunday with the deployment of 355 drones and nine cruise missiles across Ukraine. Ukrainian officials called it the deadliest coordinated strike since 2022.
In response, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are lobbying Trump to take immediate and forceful action. Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat, and Senator Lindsey Graham, a close Trump ally, have co-sponsored a bipartisan sanctions bill that includes secondary sanctions and massive tariffs—some up to 500%—on nations purchasing Russian energy.
“All of us, by our public statements as well as private contacts, are pressing very, very hard,” Blumenthal said in a CNN interview.
The legislation, backed by over 80 senators, would dramatically escalate U.S. financial pressure on Russia and its global trade partners.
Trump Torn Between Diplomacy and Deterrence
Despite his aggressive tone, Trump has shown reluctance to enact the measures immediately. According to European officials, he told U.S. allies on a recent conference call that he was holding off on sanctions in order to preserve Russia’s willingness to engage in peace talks.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio echoed this strategy in testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee last week. “The president believes that if you start threatening sanctions now, the Russians will stop talking,” Rubio said. “There is value in keeping dialogue open.”
This position contrasts with Trump’s Sunday statement to reporters: “He’s killing a lot of people… I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him?”
Global Leaders Urge Action
French President Emmanuel Macron, who has been working closely with Trump to support Ukrainian sovereignty, said Monday that the Russian president’s latest aggression should be met with consequences.
“President Trump realizes that when President Putin said on the phone he was ready for peace, he lied,” Macron told reporters in Paris. “I simply hope now that this translates into action.”
Macron’s statement reflects a growing European frustration over what leaders see as a disconnect between Trump’s public outrage and policy execution.
Sanction Targets Under Review
Officials inside the White House confirmed that the new sanctions packages under review include:
- Expanding existing financial sanctions on Russian banks and state-owned enterprises
- Implementing secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil and gas
- Blocking Russian access to key Western technologies
However, aides caution that Trump has backed away from similar threats before, often citing concerns over harming diplomatic backchannels with Moscow.
Conclusion: Trump’s Balancing Act
As the war in Ukraine escalates and Russia grows more emboldened, the world is watching whether Trump’s fury will translate into tangible policy. His Truth Social post, one of his strongest public rebukes of Putin since returning to the White House, could mark a turning point—or another moment of rhetorical bluster.
With bipartisan momentum in Congress and international allies growing impatient, Trump faces a high-stakes decision: follow through with tough sanctions or risk appearing soft on a resurgent Kremlin.
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