Eduardo Sifuentes
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preCharge News POLITICS — U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday floated the possibility of stronger sanctions on Moscow and questioned whether Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to “stop the war” against Ukraine.
A New Tone Emerges as Trump and Zelenskyy Hold High-Stakes Meeting in Rome
On a day meant for solemn reflection, international tensions quietly simmered. U.S. President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Rome on Saturday, just hours before the funeral of Pope Francis. In a sharp pivot from his earlier positions, Trump publicly questioned Vladimir Putin’s intentions and hinted at tougher sanctions on Moscow.
Trump’s pointed remarks surfaced in a Truth Social post shortly after his meeting with Zelenskyy. He directly addressed Russia’s latest attacks, criticizing missile strikes on Ukrainian cities and signaling a shift toward a more confrontational posture against the Kremlin.
“There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns,” Trump wrote. “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war. He’s just tapping me along.”
Trump Floats “Banking” and “Secondary Sanctions” Against Russia
In his post, Trump suggested imposing new financial penalties on Russia, specifically mentioning “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions” as potential tools. He emphasized the human toll, writing, “Too many people are dying!!!” — a rare emotional outburst on his platform.
Vice President JD Vance quickly amplified Trump’s statement, reposting it on X (formerly Twitter).
— JD Vance (@JDVance) April 26, 2025
The White House later characterized the Trump-Zelenskyy meeting as a “very productive discussion,” though officials declined to provide specifics.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy, posting on Facebook, described the meeting as “good” and “very symbolic,” adding that it could become “historic, if we achieve joint results.”
Peace Deal Pressure: Crimea, Red Lines, and Strategic Calculations
Trump’s remarks come amid his intensified pressure on Ukraine and Russia to forge a peace deal. Earlier this week, Trump reportedly floated an offer that would involve recognizing Crimea as Russian territory — a position starkly opposed by Kyiv.
In another surprising admission, Trump acknowledged that Russia “stole” Crimea from Ukraine, calling out former President Barack Obama for allowing the annexation without resistance.
“Obama made it possible for Russia to steal Crimea from Ukraine without even a shot being fired,” Trump posted.
Previously, in an interview with TIME Magazine, Trump remarked, “Crimea will stay with Russia,” asserting that “Zelenskyy understands that.” His comments ignited immediate pushback from the Ukrainian side. Zelenskyy reiterated that Crimea remains an “inseparable” part of Ukraine’s sovereign territory.
High-Level Talks to End the War: Trump Signals Optimism
Adding further intrigue, Trump claimed on Friday that Russia and Ukraine are “very close to a deal”. He urged both sides to meet at high levels to finalize the agreement.
On Truth Social, he wrote:
“Most of the major points are agreed to.”
While the contours of any potential agreement remain unclear, Trump’s more assertive tone — particularly toward Moscow — marks a notable shift. Whether this new approach will move the needle on peace talks, or deepen rifts, remains to be seen.
For now, against the backdrop of one of the most significant funerals of the century, geopolitical chess continues in the shadows of the Vatican.
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Associated Press, CNBC News, Fox News, and preCharge News contributed to this report
