US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he is ready to impose financial sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin does not agree on a truce, warning of serious consequences.

“We want an end. We have financial sanctions. I am talking about finances, because we are not going to get involved in a world war, “Trump said.

However, Trump reinstated his threat to heavy financial sanctions in Russia without setting a new timetable for their implementation.

“It will not be a world war, but a financial war,” Trump said, stressing that the consequences “will be bad for Russia”. At the same time, he made it clear that he does not want to proceed immediately with new sanctions or duties that will hit the Russian economy, expressing hope that there is still room for an agreement that will end the conflict.

Trump implied once again that Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelensky bears part of the responsibility for the conflict, calling him “not exactly innocent”, and rejected recent Russian statements that they would not sign a peacekeeping agreement with him: Everyone is bluffing. Everything is nonsense. “

The US president said that “you need two to dance tango … you have to bring them together” when asked about the possibility of a meeting between Vladimir Putin and Volodimir Zelenski.

“It’s no different from the worst wars I’ve ever seen, and if I can stop him, because I have a certain power or a certain relationship, I had a very good relationship with President Putin, very good. This is still a good thing, “he said.

Although Trump has repeatedly threatened with stricter financial pressure on Moscow, he has so far avoided substantial measures, constantly extending the ultimatums he puts on Putin.

“What I thought would be the easiest, in the end it turns out to be the most difficult,” he said of the war in Ukraine. “But I think I’ll do it.”