Trump threatens to devastate Russian economy if Putin refuses peace deal

[libertybele]

Trump threatens to devastate Russian economy if Putin refuses peace deal



Donald Trump has threatened to devastate the Russian economy if the Kremlin does not sign a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.

The US president said that if needed, “there are things you can do that wouldn’t be pleasant in a financial sense,” and would be “very bad for Russia.”

“We could do things very bad for Russia. Would be devastating for Russia. But I don’t want to do that because I want to see peace,” he said.

The threat comes amid increased pressure for Moscow to accept a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.

Trump said that the US has “people going to Russia right now,” following reports that his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff would travel to Moscow this week.

“Hopefully we can get a ceasefire,” he told reporters, adding that “it is up to Russia now”.

But Vladimir Putin is reportedly hesitant to accept a ceasefire deal while Russian forces are making significant gains on the battlefield as it retook Sudzha, a key town in its Kursk region.

Yesterday, it took a number of small villages and towns, while launching attacks on Kyiv, and Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih............................

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2025/03/12/russia-ukraine-peace-talks-zelensky-putin-war-latest-news/

[Canuck Conservative]

Even a gangster like Putin can understand what he's up against.

Putin is getting "a deal he can't refuse".

[libertybele]

Even a gangster like Putin can understand what he's up against.

Putin is getting "a deal he can't refuse".

Both Rubio and Trump have basically stated that now the ball is in Russia's court.  Putin isn't stupid by any means and he's dealt with Trump before.  It will be interesting to see what his next move is. 

[MeganC]

The narrative is flipping right now. Trump is shifting from saying he wants peace to considering what's next. And his comments are intended for us, not the Russians.

The Russians will respond to economic threats with predictable anger because they see economic threats as impotent.

It's interesting to see the narrative flipping like this. Before Ukraine came to the table I expected the Russians to come to the table first just to make Ukraine look bad.

Now the Russians are being prodded into doubling down on Putin's previously stated war goals:

* Conquest of at least Ukraine's Black Sea coast including Odessa
* 'Denazification' which in Russian parlance means a slaughter of Ukrainian leadership
* Ukrainian neutrality on Russian terms which means Russian domination
* Permanent Russian annexation of additional Ukrainian territories

I have been opposed to Trump's Ukraine policy so far but if I am reading the tea leaves correctly it looks like he's going to get Russia/Putin to give Trump the justification to do something unexpected. 

[catfish1957]

The narrative is flipping right now. Trump is shifting from saying he wants peace to considering what's next. And his comments are intended for us, not the Russians.

Silly conjecture.  Try some factual content in your posts.

The Russians will respond to economic threats with predictable anger because they see economic threats as impotent.

Apparently you know very little about world economics, and how it interplays with geo-political politics.  All DJT has to say, is he will work with the world to drive the price of oil to $50/bbl.  Putin will turn white as sheet on that comment alone.

It's interesting to see the narrative flipping like this. Before Ukraine came to the table I expected the Russians to come to the table first just to make Ukraine look bad.

What?   

Now the Russians are being prodded into doubling down on Putin's previously stated war goals:

* Conquest of at least Ukraine's Black Sea coast including Odessa
* 'Denazification' which in Russian parlance means a slaughter of Ukrainian leadership
* Ukrainian neutrality on Russian terms which means Russian domination
* Permanent Russian annexation of additional Ukrainian territories

I have been opposed to Trump's Ukraine policy so far but if I am reading the tea leaves correctly it looks like he's going to get Russia/Putin to give Trump the justification to do something unexpected. 

Kudos...  I didn't know you could read Putin's mind.  So rather than flying off, realize that Trump owns the negotiations cards (oil price and sanctions), it's now up to Putin to do either do damage control and take a negotiated settlement, or take a huge risk and continue the war.   If Putin refuses terms, and oil drops to $40-$50/bbl, he might not have the economic means of getting his army back to Russia.  That will result in carnage and massacres not seen on the battle field since World War 2.

[The_Reader_David]

Unless he plans to get Congress to grant letters of marque and reprisal against Russia's "shadow fleet" that's getting around the sanctions against their oil industry or use the US Navy to take them out, I don't see how Trump can "devastate" the Russian economy, which is already nearly an autarky thanks to already existing sanctions.

It's a hollow threat.  The only real threat Putin will respond to is more effective military aid to Ukraine.

[MeganC]

Unless he plans to get Congress to grant letters of marque and reprisal against Russia's "shadow fleet" that's getting around the sanctions against their oil industry or use the US Navy to take them out, I don't see how Trump can "devastate" the Russian economy, which is already nearly an autarky thanks to already existing sanctions.

It's a hollow threat.  The only real threat Putin will respond to is more effective military aid to Ukraine.

A total trade embargo like we've had on Cuba for 65 years is what would be the most extreme sanction.

Note that this is not a blockade.

All it means is we are closing off all trade with Russia and possibly any country that trades with Russia...like China.

[Luis Gonzalez]

A total trade embargo like we've had on Cuba for 65 years is what would be the most extreme sanction.

Note that this is not a blockade.

All it means is we are closing off all trade with Russia and possibly any country that trades with Russia...like China.

The US has been, and continues to be to this day, one of Cuba’s top trading partners.

Go ahead.

I double-dog dare you.

[MeganC]

The US has been, and continues to be to this day, one of Cuba’s top trading partners.

Go ahead.

I double-dog dare you.

https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/cuba

On July 20, 2015, Cuba and the United States reopened their respective embassies and reestablished diplomatic relations.  However, the U.S. trade embargo with Cuba remains in place and most transactions between the United States and Cuba continue to be prohibited. 

Since 2000, certain U.S. exports of agricultural goods and medical devices have been permitted.  Other items authorized for export more recently include certain building materials for private residential construction, goods and services for use by private sector Cuban entrepreneurs, and agricultural equipment for small farmers.

Regarding imports from Cuba, importation of certain goods and services produced by independent Cuban entrepreneurs is allowed. More information on permitted imports is available here.

Cuba Trade Summary

U.S. total goods trade with Cuba were an estimated $591.4 million in 2024. U.S. goods exports to Cuba in 2024 were $586.5 million, up 45.1 percent ($182.4 million) from 2023. U.S. goods imports from Cuba in 2024 totaled $4.9 million, up 19.2 percent ($0.8 million) from 2023. The U.S. goods trade surplus with Cuba was $581.6 million in 2024, a 45.4 percent increase ($181.6 million) over 2023.

Cuba did $7.6 billion in trade in 2022. The US did $615 million of that trade in medical supplies and non-embargoed trade.

 

[Luis Gonzalez]

https://ustr.gov/countries-regions/americas/cuba

Cuba did $7.6 billion in trade in 2022. The US did $615 million of that trade in medical supplies and non-embargoed trade.

 

I am Cuban.

I was born there.

I lived in Havana during the Missile Crisis, in an apartment building that the Cuban “Defense” Forces used to set up an anti-aircraft battery to watch over the bay.

I fu¢king hate Russians because the stores that had all the good shit from the US were only accessible to Russians.

The US will sell Cuba anything it wants.  But Cuba must pay cash, and they have. And that constitutes “trade”. PS.  We also import a small amount of products from there.

So, as I said, there is no “Total Trade Embargo” as you claimed.

[Luis Gonzalez]

Cuba did $7.6 billion in trade in 2022. The US did $615 million of that trade in medical supplies and non-embargoed trade.

OOOOOH!

I see what you mean!

A TOTAL EMBARGO WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME STUFF AND EXCEPTIONS FOR SOME OTHER ITEMS!

THAT KIND OF TOTAL EMBARGO!!!!

[MeganC]

I am Cuban.

I was born there.

I lived in Havana during the Missile Crisis, in an apartment building that the Cuban “Defense” Forces used to set up an anti-aircraft battery to watch over the bay.

I fu¢king hate Russians because the stores that had all the good shit from the US were only accessible to Russians.

The US will sell Cuba anything it wants.  But Cuba must pay cash, and they have. And that constitutes “trade”. PS.  We also import a small amount of products from there.

So, as I said, there is no “Total Trade Embargo” as you claimed.

I like you one hell of a lot now. I don't even remember what we were discussing.   

[Luis Gonzalez]

I love the smell of solipsism burning through the fiberoptic lines at Sunset.

[MeganC]

I love the smell of solipsism burning through the fiberoptic lines at Sunset.

I am autistic. I am by nature narcissitic. I know this.

Over the years as I have worked on this issue I have discovered that the difference between autistics and so-called normal people is that autistics aren't as good at hiding our narcissism as are normal people.

[Luis Gonzalez]

I am autistic. I am by nature narcissitic. I know this.

Over the years as I have worked on this issue I have discovered that the difference between autistics and so-called normal people is that autistics aren't as good at hiding our narcissism as are normal people.

 like you one hell of a lot now. I don't even remember what we were discussing.   

[MeganC]