Trump warns Putin: ‘Economic war’ will be devastating if Russia does not come to the table
27 August 2025 16:15
At a meeting of the US government on August 26, President Donald Trump warned that his administration is ready to unleash a real “economic war” against Russia if Moscow refuses to negotiate an end to the war with Ukraine. The footage of the speech was published by Forbes magazine on its YouTube channel, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
“We have economic sanctions… if I have to, I will use my very serious plan, but the most important thing is to end this without a world war… And an economic war will be hard. It will be bad – especially for Russia. And I don’t want that,” Trump said.
This announcement came amid a series of revisions to the possibility of future negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and the United States. For example, on August 18, Trump met with European leaders and President Zelenskyy at the White House to discuss security guarantees and the prospects for a trilateral format of negotiations.
How the United States has already imposed economic sanctions on Russia – and what it means for Ukraine
1. Sanctions of 2022-2023
After the start of the full-scale invasion of Russia, the United States imposed several waves of sanctions aimed at key sectors of the Russian economy – energy, finance, technology and defense. This significantly limited Moscow’s ability to finance the war.
2. Ban on energy imports
One of the most painful blows was the ban on imports of Russian oil and gas. Additionally, price restrictions were imposed on such supplies to the EU, which reduced the Kremlin’s export revenues.
3. Restrictions on import and export operations
The United States actively impedes trade between Russia and third countries. The sanctions against access to international financial markets and dual-use technologies, which limit the production of weapons, have a particular impact.
4. Geopolitical support for Ukraine
Increased defense assistance, including military loans and grants, has allowed Kyiv to strengthen its defense. The United States also advocates isolating Russia at the diplomatic level, in key international organizations and alliances.
By warning of an economic war, Trump has actually shown that the United States is ready to mobilize its sanctions potential if the Kremlin again blocks the negotiation process. This approach can be interpreted as an attempt to force Moscow to behave more responsibly without resorting to direct military action.
