Washington, D.C. — August 22, 2025
U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he will decide within two weeks on the United States’ next steps regarding Russia’s war in Ukraine, signaling that options include imposing “massive” sanctions or tariffs on Moscow — or taking no further action.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump expressed anger over a Russian missile strike on Thursday that hit a U.S.-owned electronics factory in Ukraine. “I’m not happy about that strike, and I’m not happy about anything having to do with that war,” he said.
The president added that he wants to see whether Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky agree to meet in the coming days. “I think I’ll know the attitude of Russia and, frankly, of Ukraine. It takes two,” Trump said, stressing that his decision will hinge on the state of potential peace talks.
No date has been set for a Putin–Zelensky meeting, and the White House has not released details of what the proposed sanctions package might include.
