Ukraine Welcomes Trump's Tough Stance Against Putin as Tensions Rise

Ukraine has lauded former President Donald Trump's warning to Vladimir Putin about concluding the ongoing invasion "the hard way" through tariffs and sanctions, interpreting his words as a powerful message to the Kremlin. In his initial significant statements on Ukraine since returning to the presidency, Trump pressured Putin to either negotiate a resolution or deal with escalated economic penalties, emphasizing the choice to resolve the matter through easier or tougher means.

The Kremlin, however, attempted to minimize the impact of Trump's comments, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov asserting that there was nothing particularly new in the threats and that Russia was prepared for respectful dialogue with the United States. Russia's deputy ambassador to the UN, Dmitry Polyansky, remarked that the Kremlin needed clarification on what Trump considers a "deal," stressing that the underlying issues of the Ukrainian crisis must be addressed first.

Ukrainian officials reacted positively to Trump’s statements, with Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha commending the strong signal sent to Moscow. He expressed hope that such strong messages could revitalize diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict.

Vladyslav Vlasiuk, Ukraine’s sanctions commissioner, indicated there are numerous areas where Trump could impose sanctions, including the fintech sector and companies developing Russia's digital currency.

Meanwhile, reports from the Kremlin suggested that Putin believes significant objectives of Russia’s military campaign have been achieved. Peskov acknowledged challenges within the Russian economy but insisted military and social needs would continue to be met.

During the World Economic Forum in Davos, NATO Chief Mark Rutte warned that a Russian victory in Ukraine would severely weaken the military alliance's influence, asserting that supporting Ukraine now is far less costly than attempting to restore NATO credibility following such a victory. He emphasized the importance of changing the course of the conflict and preventing the 21st-century notion of one nation invading another.

On the battlefield, Ukrainian forces reported around 115 clashes with Russian troops. There was intense artillery fire from Russia, alongside drone attacks causing casualties and widespread destruction in various regions, with reports of significant injuries among civilians, including a two-month-old baby. One victim, Serhiy, recounted the harrowing experience of being trapped under debris, highlighting the personal impact of the relentless assaults.