Henrik RCeasefire Needed by April or Sanctions Will Follow
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The Trump administration has issued a last-ditch ultimatum to Moscow: agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine by the end of April, or brace for sweeping new U.S. sanctions, according to Axios.
Sanctions Threat Delivered via Trump Envoy
Trump’s personal envoy, Steve Witkoff, has already delivered the message to the Kremlin and is set to meet Vladimir Putin on April 11, Axios reports.
Pressure Mounts as Trump Grows Frustrated
Trump is reportedly losing patience with Russia’s slow-walking tactics in the negotiations, according to sources familiar with the talks.
Clock Is Ticking: Weeks, Not Months
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Two Paths for Sanctions
The proposed sanctions, per Axios, include:
- Executive actions Trump could reverse
- Congressional sanctions, which could take years to lift
Talks at a Standstill
Despite six in-person meetings between Russian and American envoys in the past two months, there’s been no breakthrough.
Russia’s Maximalist Demands Stall Progress
According to The Moscow Times, Russia is demanding control of all four occupied Ukrainian regions — Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson — and may push for more.
Russia May Seek More Land for Leverage
Sources told The Moscow Times that Moscow could occupy parts of Dnipropetrovsk or Sumy to use as bargaining chips in future talks.
Trump Threatens 500% Tariffs on Russian Oil
Trump has floated tariffs up to 500% on countries that buy Russian oil, aiming to cut off war funding through global energy markets.
Hopes for Easter Ceasefire Fading
According to Reuters, White House officials admit that an Easter ceasefire is now unlikely, with Putin’s hardline “war party” refusing any deal that looks like retreat.
