As Russia’s economy braces for the impending US sanctions President Donald Trump has mocked Putin with a defiant 7-word putdown. Just yesterday, the Russian President branded the sanctions on Russia an “unfriendly act” but dismissed them as futile, insisting that Moscow will not cave over Ukraine.
Putin said Russia will never bow to pressure from abroad, addressing the Russian Geographical Society in Moscow, adding that “dialogue is always better than war”. Putin admitted the sanctions will have “certain consequences” – but insisted they won’t have a “significant impact on our economy”. But when Putin’s response was put to Trump, the US President only responded with sarcasm during a meeting with journalists at the White House.
Offering a sardonic response, Trump issued an adamant seven-word putdown. The US President said: “Let’s see how it all works out.”
“I am glad he feels that way, that’s good,” the US leader said.
Then, with a slight laugh and with defence secretary Pete Hegseth smiling next to him, he said: “I will let you know about it in six months from now. Let’s see how it works out.”
It comes after Trump launched the “tremendous” sanctions on Russian oil in an effort to force a peace deal, stating: “I just felt it was time. We waited a long time.” The White House will target two of Russia’s biggest oil companies – Rosneft and Lukoil.
The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, said the government would freeze all the US assets belonging to the entities, as well as banning American companies and individuals from trading with them.
The White House is also threatening secondary sanctions on foreign financial institutions that do business with the Rosneft and Lukoil. The sanctions have already led to serious consequences for the Kremlin, with Chinese state oil companies halting their purchases of seaborne Russian oil.
Putin’s ally, Dmitry Medvedev, blasted Trump’s decision as an “act of war against Russia”, and that he had aligned with “insane Europe”.
The deputy chair of the Security Council of Russia posted on Telegram: “The United States is our adversary, and their talkative “peacemaker” has now fully embarked on the warpath against Russia.”
