Donald Trump Issues Ukraine Warning to 'Smart' Putin
NewsweekJAN 28
Trump Warns Putin to End Ukraine War or Face Tariffs and More Sanctions
Above: US Pres. Donald Trump pictured in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025. Image copyright: Jabin Botsford/Contributor/The Washington Post via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-Trump narrative
Trump is a friend to the Russian people but will be forced to take action in the form of tariffs and sanctions if Russian Pres. Putin refuses to cooperate to bring a quick and lasting end to the war in Ukraine.
Pro-Russia narrative
The Kremlin sees nothing new in the rhetoric deployed by US Pres. Trump. It was a tactic of the previous administration and Trump, too, heavily sanctioned Russia in his first presidential term.