US President Donald Trump said that he is prepared to impose a “second phase” of sanctions on Russia. Mr Trump told reporters outside the White House that he is ready when he was asked if additional measures were coming.
His remark followed comments by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who warned that Russia’s economy would collapse if the United States and European Union expand secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Moscow’s crude oil.
Bessent has called for putting secondary tariffs on countries that purchase oil from Russia, hinting towards India and China.
In his recent interview with NBC, Bessent said that the US and the European Union (EU) should together intensify economic pressure on the Russian Federation, arguing that stronger sanctions are expected to force President Vladimir Putin to sit for peace talks with Ukraine.
“If the U.S. and the EU can come in, do more sanctions and secondary tariffs on countries that buy Russian oil, the Russian economy will be in full collapse, and that will bring President Putin to the table,” he added.
