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NO TIME FOR SANCTIONS: Last week, when a reporter asked if he was prepared to advance to the “second stage of sanctions” against Russian President Vladimir Putin, President Donald Trump responded, “Yeah, I am.”
During a Friday appearance on Fox and Friends, Trump was questioned about his dwindling patience. “Yes, it’s sort of running out and running out fast, but it does take two to tango,” he said. “Zelensky wants to, and Putin is a question mark, but we’re going to have to come down very, very strong.”
This pattern is becoming increasingly familiar: Trump articulates his dissatisfaction with Putin, expressing disappointment yet hesitating to implement stricter sanctions. He often refrains from holding Putin accountable for provocations, such as the recent drone incursion into NATO ally Poland, which he described as possibly a mistake. “Could have been a mistake. But regardless, I’m not happy about anything having to do with that whole situation,” he stated last week.
On Saturday, Trump outlined his strategy to sidestep imposing significant sanctions, which enjoy bipartisan backing in Congress. “I am ready to do major sanctions on Russia when all NATO Nations have agreed, and started, to do the same thing, and when all NATO Nations STOP BUYING OIL FROM RUSSIA,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “If NATO does as I say, the WAR will end quickly,” he added. “If not, you are just wasting my time, and the time, energy, and money of the United States.”
NATO ANNOUNCES ‘EASTERN SENTRY’ BOOST FOLLOWING RUSSIAN DRONE INCURSION INTO POLAND
A PRESCRIPTION FOR U.S. INACTION: With 32 member nations, NATO functions on a consensus basis, meaning collective action requires unanimous agreement. However, leaders like Hungary’s Viktor Orban and Slovakia’s Robert Fico, who maintain close ties with Putin, are unlikely to halt energy purchases from Russia. This renders Trump’s demand for all NATO nations to cease oil imports virtually impossible, allowing him to shift blame onto European allies for inaction.
“Europe is buying oil from Russia. I don’t want them to buy oil. And the sanctions they’re putting on are not tough enough,” Trump remarked to reporters in New Jersey. “They’re not doing the job. NATO has to get together. Europe has to get together and do. Look, Europe is — they’re my friends, but they’re buying oil from Russia, so we can’t be expected to be the only ones that are, you know, full bore.”
“And I’m willing to do sanctions, but they’re going to have to toughen up their sanctions commensurate with what I’m doing.”
ZELENSKY: WE HAVE THE WEAPONS, WE NEED MONEY: In a recent CNN interview with Fareed Zakaria in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his frustration at having to plead for long-range weaponry from the U.S. and European allies.
“As of now, we have our own long-range capabilities. We just lack financing,” Zelensky stated, noting that Ukraine has been successfully targeting Russia’s oil infrastructure, leading to regional fuel shortages in Russia.
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However, with Russia deploying up to 800 Shahed drones daily against Ukraine, he emphasized the need for increased production of interceptor drones. “What we need from the partners to counter Shaheds, we need financing from our partners. These are not global decisions. These are fast decisions that must be done today.”
“For 800 Shaheds per day at Ukrainian territory, we need at least 1,500 interceptors,” Zelensky explained. “The price of one interceptor is 3,000 euros. That is the answer to how to stop the Shaheds. And so that Russia does not want tomorrow to send 800 Shaheds. We must send 1,000 drones to their territory to retaliate.”
THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner: Johnson ‘anxious’ to impose additional sanctions on Russia pending Trump approval
Washington Examiner: NATO announces ‘Eastern Sentry’ boost following Russian drone incursion into Poland
Washington Examiner: Trump and Rubio aim to smooth things over with Qatar after Israeli strike
Washington Examiner: Executions for consuming banned foreign media rise in North Korea, UN finds
Washington Examiner: Taiwan sees its future ‘closely linked’ to the ‘destiny of Ukraine,’ foreign minister says
Washington Examiner: Why China wants to build a nature reserve in the South China Sea
Washington Examiner: Hegseth tells staff to identify anyone at Pentagon who has mocked or condoned Charlie Kirk’s death
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