Donald Trump is preparing to launch sweeping “shock and awe” sanctions targeting Russian exports, according to a senior Republican lawmaker.
Senator Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the US president intends to follow through on his pledge to impose crippling economic penalties on Russia’s trading partners by August 8.
This week, Trump escalated pressure on the Kremlin, warning of the most severe sanctions yet on Russian oil exports. He gave Vladimir Putin a 10-day deadline to broker a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine.
However, Trump appeared to soften his stance midweek, announcing a 25% tariff on Indian exports instead of harsher measures.
“India has always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia’s largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine – all things not good!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
He added: “India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 per cent, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August first.”
The mixed messaging raises questions about the consistency and scope of the forthcoming sanctions, as Washington seeks to isolate Moscow economically while managing relations with other global powers.
Trump Tightens Sanctions as Moscow Strikes Escalate: Envoy Heads to Russia for Talks
Donald Trump is pressing ahead with a new round of sanctions targeting Russian exports, though they fall short of earlier Republican-backed proposals. While some lawmakers initially pushed for tariffs of up to 500% on Russia and its allies, Trump scaled this back to 100%, and most recently confirmed a 25% tariff, now set to take effect against India from August 1.
The latest move forms part of the administration’s wider strategy to punish Russia’s trading partners and increase pressure on President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine.
In a further diplomatic push, Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, is expected to visit Russia in the coming days following a humanitarian mission to Gaza.
“He’s going to Russia, believe it or not,” Trump told reporters, calling Moscow’s latest missile attacks on Kyiv “disgusting.”
Witkoff previously met Putin in April at the Kremlin, though those talks failed to produce a breakthrough. The upcoming visit is being closely watched for signs of renewed diplomatic engagement.
Meanwhile, Trump shared internal military estimates on Truth Social, claiming that Russia has lost 112,500 soldiers since the start of the year, with nearly 20,000 deaths in the past month alone. He added that Ukraine’s military had suffered 8,000 casualties over the same period, alongside numerous civilian deaths caused by Russian strikes.
“This is a war that should have never happened — this is Biden’s War, not ‘Trump’s’,” Trump wrote. “I’m just here to see if I can stop it.”
Despite confirming that further sanctions are on the way, Trump admitted their effectiveness on Putin’s resolve was uncertain: “I’m not sure it bothers him or if it has any effect, but we’re going to do it.”
The proposed sanctions could have far-reaching implications for global oil markets. According to the International Energy Agency, Russia exports 4.5% of the world’s crude oil. However, Trump dismissed concerns of market disruption, telling reporters aboard Air Force One that he would ramp up domestic oil production to compensate.
At the United Nations, Senior US diplomat John Kelley echoed Trump’s position during a National Security Council session, urging both sides to return to negotiations:
“It is time to make a deal. The United States is prepared to implement additional measures to secure peace.”
Talks between Kyiv and Moscow in Istanbul have so far yielded only prisoner and body exchanges, without progress toward ending the conflict, now in its fourth year.
Senator Jim Risch, chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, warned that Putin’s refusal to respond to US warnings on secondary sanctions could prove costly: “He’s made a lot of mistakes, but this could be the biggest one yet.”
