Camilla Jessen
President Trump has revealed he’s considering sanctions on Russia but is keeping the timeline to himself.
President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that he has a personal deadline in mind for possibly imposing sanctions on Russia.
But for now, that deadline remains a secret.
“It’s in my brain, the deadline,” Trump told reporters during a press event at the White House with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on June 5, suggesting he’s not yet ready to reveal specifics.
The U.S. president also confirmed that he had recently spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, discussing Ukraine’s recent drone attacks on Russian airfields and broader geopolitical concerns, including Iran’s nuclear program.
“I’m Not Friends with Anybody”
Responding to a question about his posture toward Moscow, Trump pushed back against characterizations of him being overly friendly with Putin.
“If I see somebody’s out of line, if Russia’s out of line, you’ll be amazed,” he said. “Remember this, they like to say that I’m friends with Russia. I’m not friends with anybody.”
Trump added that he had personally warned Putin not to retaliate after Ukraine launched drone strikes—known as Operation “Spiderweb”—on several Russian military airfields, damaging long-range bombers.
Ukrainian officials said the strikes were aimed at diminishing Russia’s capacity for aerial assaults.
“5,000 Soldiers a Week Are Dying”
Trump painted a grim picture of the ongoing conflict’s toll.
“They’ve taken away the culture of a country [Ukraine]. They’ve taken away the heritage of a country. It’s a terrible thing. But most importantly, again, is the death. 5,000 plus people a week, soldiers, are being killed,” he said.
Though his casualty estimate has not been independently verified.
U.S. and allied intelligence agencies have warned that battlefield attrition may be reaching unsustainable levels.
Details of Trump’s phone call with Putin remain limited.
According to the White House, the leaders discussed not only Ukraine but also the rising threat posed by Iran’s nuclear activities.
The Kremlin has not yet issued a readout of the call.