President Donald Trump during a Cabinet meeting at the White House referred to Vladimir Putin as a 'useless bullshitter' and hinted at the possibility of supporting a sanctions bill against Russia.
Trump on Sanctions Against Russia
Trump stated he is 'very strongly' considering a bill aimed at imposing high tariffs on countries importing Russian energy and penalizing foreign companies aiding Russia in oil and gas production. This legislation has garnered wide bipartisan support in Congress, but Republican leaders are hesitant to advance it without clear direction from Trump. He said: 'I’m looking at it. It’s an optional bill.'
Trump's Changing Attitude Towards Putin
Although Trump appears closer to signing the bill, his stance has been inconsistent. A month ago, during a meeting with Germany's Chancellor, he referred to the bill as 'very harsh,' expressing doubts about the efficacy of sanctions against Putin. However, his tone this week was markedly different, leaving the door open for further discussion.
Challenges in Relations with Ukraine
Trump indicated that a recent conversation with Putin did not go well, expressing frustration over the Russian leader's comments. Amidst this, he announced plans to resume military aid shipments to Ukraine, which had been paused. The contradictions in his approach to supporting Ukraine are becoming increasingly evident amid the ongoing conflict.
The relationship between Trump and Putin is under strain, and the potential signing of the sanctions bill may be a crucial step in the context of the ongoing war in Ukraine.
