Washington: Following a high-level meeting with the NATO Secretary-General, US President Donald Trump has announced a new round of stringent sanctions against Russia, aimed at increasing pressure over the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Speaking to the media at the White House, President Trump framed the conflict in stark human terms. “Thousands of deaths are occurring every week in the Russia-Ukraine war,” he stated, adding that the new sanctions are a “signal of what the US is going to do next.”
The measures specifically target two major Russian oil companies. The NATO Secretary-General endorsed the move, calling it a “step in the right direction” intended to push Moscow towards a ceasefire.
President Trump also addressed the domestic political gridlock, expressing frustration over the ongoing government shutdown. “The US is the world’s largest economy, and a government shutdown should not have happened,” he said.
He placed the blame for the shutdown on Democrats, claiming they “want to give healthcare to illegal immigrants.” Trump asserted that his administration “will not spend the budget on people who enter the country illegally.” He did, however, note that “some good Democrats” are working with Republicans to end the stalemate.
Concluding with remarks on his foreign policy, President Trump claimed credit for de-escalation globally, stating, “I tried to bring stability to the world by stopping seven wars, including between Pakistan and India.”
