U.S. President Donald Trump declared on September 7, that he is prepared to initiate a “second phase” of sanctions against Russia, marking his most concrete signal yet that a significant escalation may be imminent in response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Spotted outside the White House, when pressed by reporters on whether he was ready to advance the sanctions, Trump simply replied, “Yeah, I am”, without laying out specific details or timelines.
This assertive stance follows repeated but unimplemented warnings Trump has issued while pursuing diplomatic overtures with Moscow. Trump’s remark emerges against the backdrop of intensifying Russian military operations, including the largest aerial assault of the war to date, which devastated parts of Kyiv and heightened calls among U.S. officials for more forceful economic tools to bring President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reiterated that “secondary tariffs” aimed at countries purchasing Russian oil remain on the agenda. Such measures, particularly if coordinated with EU partners, are viewed as potentially catastrophic to the Russian economy. The bipartisan Sanctioning Russia Act, introduced earlier this year could empower these actions, including imposing up to 500% tariffs on both Russian exports and nations buying Russian energy.
Trump’s latest comments underscore mounting frustration over stalled peace negotiations and continued Russian aggression. While invoking the possibility of tougher sanctions, he stopped short of confirming a firm timeline or the exact nature of the next steps.
