President Donald Trump is weighing a new round of sanctions against Russia following a sharp escalation in military attacks on Ukraine and growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unfulfilled promise to present a peace proposal.
According to White House and U.S. officials, during a phone call last week, Putin committed to sending a memorandum of peace outlining conditions for a ceasefire with Ukraine. More than a week later, no such document has been delivered. The delay has intensified Trump’s anger, prompting renewed discussion of punitive measures.
“We’re considering everything. Absolutely,” Trump said on Sunday, following a weekend of Russian missile and drone strikes that left dozens dead. “He’s killing a lot of people. I don’t know what’s wrong with him. What the hell happened to him?”
The tension spilled onto social media Tuesday. In a Truth Social post, Trump warned Putin: “What Vladimir Putin doesn’t realize is that if it weren’t for me, lots of really bad things would have already happened to Russia, and I mean REALLY BAD. He’s playing with fire!”
Russian Security Council Deputy Chair Dmitry Medvedev fired back on X (formerly Twitter): “I only know of one REALLY BAD thing WWIII. I hope Trump understands this.”
Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, Gen. Keith Kellogg, responded, saying the U.S. is still waiting on Russia’s promised ceasefire memo. “Stoking fears of WWIII is reckless,” he wrote. “President Trump is working to stop this war and end the killing. Ceasefire now.”
Despite the public flare-up, sources close to Trump say he has not yet approved any sanctions, wary they could derail what he sees as delicate diplomacy. Trump has repeatedly emphasized his belief that a ceasefire must be directly negotiated between Russia and Ukraine, with outside powers including the U.S. providing support only when needed.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he had also discussed the memo with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov the day before the Trump – Putin call. Lavrov reportedly assured him that Russia was drafting a document that would lay the groundwork for broader negotiations. As of Tuesday, Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that work on the draft is ongoing.
Russia continues the development of the draft memorandum regarding the future peace treaty,” spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. The document will include ceasefire terms and principles for a settlement, she added, and will be shared with Kyiv once completed.
But Ukraine remains skeptical. President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday accused Russia of playing games with diplomacy, saying Putin’s delay was proof of his disinterest in peace.
In Washington, lawmakers from both parties are pushing Trump to act more decisively. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is spearheading a bipartisan bill with Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) that would impose sweeping secondary sanctions including up to 500% tariffs on nations purchasing Russian energy. More than 80 senators have reportedly endorsed the legislation.
Blumenthal said the bill, developed with input from key U.S. allies, would affect both adversaries and friendly nations. Germany, France, and Britain are all in 100% support, he told CNN.
European leaders are also pressing Trump to take a firmer stance. After a phone call with the U.S. president last week, French President Emmanuel Macron voiced disappointment. “When Putin said he was ready for peace, he lied. I hope President Trump now turns his frustration into action, Macron said Monday.
Although Trump initially signaled willingness to penalize Moscow more harshly, he later told allies he feared new sanctions could halt Russia’s limited engagement in peace talks. Senator Rubio echoed this caution, saying, No one is claiming this is a guarantee. But talking is better than bombing.
The White House says Trump is reviewing a range of options, including further targeting Russia’s banking sector and imposing secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil and gas. As the war enters another bloody phase, the question now is whether Trump’s growing anger will finally tip the balance toward tougher action.
