Donald Trump threatens Putin with ‘further sanctions’ as he demands ceasefire in Ukraine

Donald Trump has once again promised that he will end the war in Ukraine, saying that if he returns to office, he’ll work quickly to stop the fighting. Trump, who has been vocal about the conflict that began when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, recently threatened to put even more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin if a ceasefire is not respected.

During his campaign, Trump said he could bring peace within 24 hours of returning to the White House. However, it’s proving much harder than he claimed. Tensions remain high between the United States, Ukraine, and Russia. There was even a moment when the U.S. temporarily stopped its military aid to Ukraine following a disagreement between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting in the Oval Office.

Still, Trump has not held back in criticizing Putin. In a recent post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump shared that talks between Russia and Ukraine are continuing, and he called for a 30-day ceasefire with no conditions. He stressed that both countries should respect the agreement, and warned that if they don’t, the U.S. and its allies will introduce even more sanctions against Russia.

He said thousands of young soldiers are dying each week and that the fighting must stop. Trump added that both he and the United States strongly want peace. He also said that as president, he would stay fully committed to bringing peace between Russia and Ukraine, working together with European leaders. He believes a lasting agreement can be reached quickly and said he is ready to step in and help whenever needed.

Recently, Russia announced a short-term ceasefire from May 8 to May 11, to mark their Victory Day celebrations. But Ukraine refused to accept it, calling it nothing more than a publicity stunt. Despite the ceasefire claim, Ukrainian forces reported hundreds of attacks by Russian troops since the start of the supposed truce.

President Zelenskyy made his own public statement, saying Ukraine is open to a real ceasefire, and they’re ready to begin a 30-day silence immediately. But he said it has to be genuine—no rocket strikes, no drone attacks, and no assaults at the front lines. He insisted that Russia needs to show it truly wants peace by honoring the ceasefire.

Zelenskyy explained that this is not the first time Ukraine has asked for peace and that 30 days of silence could be the start of long-term peace. But to make that happen, he said, both sides need to fully commit and prove they are serious about ending the war.

The situation remains tense, with both leaders pushing for peace but still facing deep mistrust and ongoing violence on the ground. The world is watching closely to see if any real progress will come from these efforts, or if the fighting will continue despite the calls for a truce.