President Donald Trump is considering fresh sanctions on Moscow after Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to deliver a promised ceasefire proposal more than a week after a phone call between the two leaders, according to US officials.
The expected “memorandum of peace” — which Putin reportedly agreed to send outlining Russia’s conditions for halting its war on Ukraine — has yet to arrive in Washington, fueling frustration in the White House.
Trump, angered by Russia’s intensified missile and drone assaults over the weekend that left dozens dead, signaled Sunday that he might escalate pressure. “He’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said of Putin. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him.”
The president also lashed out on Truth Social, warning the Kremlin: “He’s playing with fire!”
Despite mounting pressure from both Republican and Democratic lawmakers to enact stricter penalties, Trump has not finalized any new measures. His aides say he remains concerned that harsher action could derail fragile diplomatic progress.
Still, options for expanded sanctions — including those targeting Russia’s banking system and nations buying Russian energy — remain on the table. A bipartisan Senate bill backed by over 80 lawmakers seeks to impose sweeping penalties, including steep tariffs on Moscow’s oil trade.
The diplomatic row spilled onto social media Tuesday, with Russian official Dmitry Medvedev warning Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg of “WWIII” in response to the president’s post. Kellogg pushed back, saying the US still awaits Russia’s proposal and urging an immediate ceasefire.
Russia’s foreign ministry confirmed it is drafting a memorandum that would outline principles for ending the war, but gave no timeline. Ukraine has dismissed the move as a stalling tactic.
European leaders, once aligned with Trump’s hesitation, now appear to be losing patience. French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday he hopes Trump will “translate his anger into action.”
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