Trump threatens Putin with punishment and sanctions if he does not accept the 30-day ceasefire deal agreed with Ukraine

US President Donald Trump has threatened ‘devastating’ consequences for Russia if President Vladimir Putin does not agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. 

Trump issued the ultimatum while discussing his team’s efforts to bring an end to the brutal conflict between the two nations.

When asked what the U.S. could do to pressure Russia into peace, he said: ‘There are things that wouldn’t be pleasant in a financial sense. I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia. I don’t want to do that because I want to get peace.’

Trump added: ‘In a financial sense, yes, we could do things that would be very bad for Russia, that would be devastating for Russia. But I don’t want to do that.’

He spoke after Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz announced that Ukraine had agreed to a 30-day ceasefire, if Russia also agrees.

The U.S. has already imposed a series of economic sanctions on Russia, and Russian oligarchs, after the country seized Crimea in 2014 and then launched a full-scale invasion in 2022. 

Now, the fate of a potential ceasefire is in Russia’s hands, and Trump is turning up the economic heat on the aggressor. 

Trump was asked if Putin would honor a cease-fire, having broken them in the past. 

‘We haven’t spoken to him yet with substance, because we just found out. We’re going to know very soon. I’ve gotten some positive messages, but a positive message means nothing. Very serious situation. This is a situation that could lead to World War III.’

On Tuesday, after talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukraine agreed to a U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia as the U.S. announced a lifting of the pause on military aid and intelligence sharing to the country.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said afterward that the ball is now in Russia’s court. 

‘We´re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,’ Rubio said.