President Donald Trump on Friday, March 7, said that he finds it “easier” to deal with Russia than with Ukraine in efforts to end the war in the pro-Western country – and that he trusts Vladimir Putin. “I believe him,” he said in a televised press conference at the White House.
“I’m finding it more difficult frankly to deal with Ukraine and they don’t have the cards,” he said. “It may be easier dealing with Russia.”
His comments come after he threatened new sanctions and tariffs on Russia over its bombardments of Ukraine. “Based on the fact that Russia is absolutely ‘pounding’ Ukraine on the battlefield right now, I am strongly considering large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs on Russia until a Cease Fire and FINAL SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT ON PEACE IS REACHED,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. “To Russia and Ukraine, get to the table right now, before it is too late,” he wrote.
Russia launched major drone and missile attacks Friday on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. Days earlier, the Trump administration suspended US military aid deliveries and intelligence-sharing with Ukraine after a dispute with President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump said he understood why Putin’s forces had inflicted a massive bombing campaign across Ukraine overnight. “I actually think he’s doing what anybody in that position would be doing that right now,” Trump said. “I’ve always had a good relationship with Putin. And you know, he wants to end the war,” he said.
He said Zelensky – who has been pressing for Western security guarantees before he agrees to a ceasefire with Russia – risks losing all US involvement. “I don’t know that they want to settle. If they don’t want to settle, we’re out of there because we want them to settle. I’m doing it to stop death,” Trump said.
Trump and Vice President JD Vance on February 28 berated Zelensky in a televised meeting at the White House, accusing him of ingratitude for billions of dollars in US weapons. Trump has since faced harsh criticism from allies and domestic opponents who say he has sided with Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.
The United States voted with Russia and against its European allies on United Nations resolutions that called for ending the war without stressing Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Tariffs on Canada
Trump also warned on Friday that tariffs could be imposed on Canadian dairy and lumber products within days, in a growing trade war between the United States and its northern neighbor. “Canada has been ripping us off for years on tariffs for lumber and for dairy products,” he said.
“They’ll be met with the exact same tariff unless they drop it, and that’s what reciprocal means. And we may do it as early as today, or we’ll wait till Monday or Tuesday.”
Trump on Thursday delayed some tariffs targeting Canada and Mexico, sending mixed signals about his policy after stock markets tumbled when his duties of up to 25% took effect earlier in the week.
Economists warn that blanket levies could weigh on US growth and raise inflation, but Trump kept the pressure up on Canada on Friday. “It’s not fair. Never has been fair, and they’ve treated our farmers badly,” he told reporters at the White House.