US President Trump said on Sunday (September 7) that he is ready to take "Phase Two" sanctions against Russia, which is the most explicit statement so far from Trump regarding further sanctions on Moscow or its oil buyers. US Treasury Secretary Bensons also stated that increasing economic pressure could force Putin back to negotiations.

Although Trump's remarks hinted at a stronger stance, they did not clearly indicate whether he had made up his mind to impose sanctions, nor did they specify the details of "Phase Two." Since taking office in January this year, Trump had claimed he could quickly end the Ukraine war, but now feels frustrated due to not being able to fulfill his promise. Zelenskyy emphasized on social media late Sunday that Ukraine "expects a strong response from the United States."

On the same day, US Treasury Secretary Bensons said on the NBC television program "Meet the Press": "If the US and the EU take further actions, imposing secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil, then the Russian economy will collapse completely, which would force Putin to the negotiating table."

Comments: After taking office, Trump has repeatedly promised to quickly end the Ukraine conflict without success. Faced with domestic political pressure and international public opinion, he needs to demonstrate a tough stance to recover his image and credibility. However, Trump's statement also carries many uncertainties. Moreover, the US has already imposed multiple rounds of sanctions on Russia, and in 2024, Russia's total exports to the US were only about $3 billion, so the space and effectiveness of further sanctions may be limited.

Furthermore, the Russian economy has developed a certain degree of "immunity" to sanctions, as it is not entirely dependent on economic relations with the US. In addition, Russia has a firm position and its own interests in the Ukraine issue, and will not easily change its attitude due to the threat of US sanctions. Meanwhile, there are differences among EU countries on the issue of sanctions against Russia, with some countries like Hungary having different positions, which makes it more difficult for the US to push forward further sanctions against Russia. The "further action by the US and the EU" that Bensons hopes for may be difficult to achieve.

Original: www.toutiao.com/article/1842649759919108/

Statement: This article represents the views of the author.