By Ghazali Ibrahim 
President Donald Trump has warned Russia that the United States will impose “devastating” trade and economic sanctions if it refuses to agree to a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
The threat comes after Ukraine announced its readiness for a ceasefire, with the proposal including a complete halt to missile, drone, and bomb attacks.
Trump emphasized that he prefers a peaceful resolution, saying “I don’t want to do that because I want to get peace.”
However, he reiterated that the US could impose severe economic pressure on Russia if necessary.
“There are things that wouldn’t be pleasant in a financial sense. I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia,” Trump said.
The ceasefire proposal was agreed upon by Ukrainian negotiators in Saudi Arabia, but its success hinges on Russia’s agreement.
Vice President JD Vance echoed Trump’s sentiments, stating that the situation is “very serious” and could lead to World War III.
“We’re going to know very soon” if Russia will agree to the ceasefire, Vance said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed his country’s acceptance of the ceasefire proposal, calling it a “positive step” toward peace.
The US has been working to persuade Russia to agree to the ceasefire, with envoy Steve Witkoff expected to hold talks in Moscow.
The situation remains tense, with Trump warning that the conflict could escalate into a global crisis.
“This is a situation that could lead to World War III,” he said.
