Trump does not rule out imposing sanctions on Russia if it refuses to negotiate an end to the war

US President Donald Trump has not ruled out imposing additional sanctions on Russia if its President Vladimir Putin refuses to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.

Asked at a White House briefing whether further sanctions could be imposed on Russia if Putin does not come to the negotiating table, Trump said, "It looks like it does." Trump did not provide any details about the possible additional sanctions.

The United States has already imposed severe sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the most recent of which was the inclusion of the administration of former US President Joe Biden, days before the end of his term, as the US Treasury Department included, on January 15, about 100 Russian entities on the SDN (Special Designated Nationals) sanctions list.

Trump said his administration was also considering sending weapons to Ukraine, adding that the European Union should do more to support Ukraine. "We're talking to (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky, and we'll be talking to President Putin very soon. We'll be looking at it," he said.

Trump said he had pressed Chinese President Xi Jinping in a phone call to intervene to stop the war in Ukraine, adding: "He didn't do much about it. He has a lot of power, just like we have a lot of power. I told him you have to get it right."

Zelensky, speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, said he hoped Trump would help bring about a just end to Russia’s war with his country. “Trump, as he told me, and later said publicly, he will do everything to end the war this year,” he said. But he added that achieving lasting peace was more important than a quick cessation of hostilities.

"We are waging this war on our territory. We know all the sore spots and understand how much pain we feel. We have lost our people," Zelensky said. "We want to end the war this year, but not only 'quickly' but also 'justly'."

The Russian and Chinese presidents also discussed in a video conference on Tuesday how to build relations with the Trump administration, prospects for a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine and Moscow's strong support for Beijing's position on Taiwan. Xi and Putin proposed further development of the strategic partnership between their countries, which has raised concerns in the West.

China and Russia declared a "no-limits" partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing days before Russia invaded Ukraine, and Putin has described China in recent months as an "ally."

Yuri Ushakov, a Kremlin foreign policy aide, told reporters in Moscow that Xi and Putin “noted their readiness to establish relations with the United States on the basis of mutual benefit and mutual respect if the Trump team shows a genuine interest in that.”

He added: "It was also noted on our part that we are ready for dialogue with the new US administration regarding the Ukrainian conflict."

Ushakov explained that Putin wants long-term peace in Ukraine, not just a short-term ceasefire, and continued that any agreement must take into account Russia's interests, adding that no specific proposals for a call with Trump have been received.

(Agencies + Al-Araby Al-Jadeed)