Donald Trump's Destructive Tariffs: Russia Will No Longer Have Friends

The President of the United States, Donald Trump, is using "destructive tariffs and sanctions" as a lever to pressure Moscow to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine by August 8. This was stated by the US Permanent Representative to NATO, Matthew Whitaker, in a brief interview with the press during his visit to the"Ramstein" military base, Germany, Strana.ua reports, quoted by Focus.

Whitaker emphasizes that the introduction of secondary sanctions and tariffs against countries that trade with Russia will deprive Moscow of its key trading partners and the opportunity to finance further military actions.

"President Trump, without a doubt, understands best what leverage is. And I believe that his statement on the introduction of, I would say, destructive tariffs and sanctions against Russia on August 8th - in the absence of a ceasefire regime - is a serious step. Because how does Russia finance this war? How can it pay a recruit, an ordinary soldier, who is most likely going to go to the front and die two weeks after minimal training? They have to pay the equivalent of $100,000 to participate in the war. And the essence is that Putin has to sell oil. He sells it to China, India, Brazil. And now these countries will face serious consequences for doing business with Russia. Russia will have no friends, it will have no trading partners, and its ability to finance the war will cease," said US Permanent Representative Whitaker.

Earlier, Trump said that the ten-day period of the ultimatum for a ceasefire in Ukraine began on July 29th. Judging by the US statement to the UN, Washington will consider August 8 as the last day to respond to the ultimatum.