15.07.2025, Berlin.
There is noticeable disappointment in Europe following US President Donald Trump’s major statement on Russia, Spiegel reported on July 15.
According to the article, the much-anticipated statement turned out to be less significant than many had expected. Expectations had been higher in Washington and in some European cities, partly due to the position taken by the US president.
The publication notes that European disappointment is particularly strong regarding the measures the US leader plans to take if there is no progress in the peace process on Ukraine, specifically the proposed sanctions.
“The question is, why should they do this? In reality, such direct tariffs would probably not have a major impact on the Russian economy. In 2023, Russia exported goods worth less than five billion dollars to the US In 2024, that amount decreased even further,” the outlet concluded.
On Monday, Donald Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Russia and stated he is ready to impose strict restrictions if an agreement on Ukraine is not reached within 50 days. If no progress is made in resolving the conflict, secondary tariffs would amount to around 100%. However, he expressed hope that it would not come to that.
Later, a White House official clarified to Reuters that the plan includes imposing 100% tariffs on Russian goods, as well as secondary sanctions against countries that purchase Russian oil.
Russia has repeatedly emphasized that the country is successfully withstanding sanctions, while Western nations hesitate to acknowledge the failure of their anti-Russian policy. In countries that have imposed restrictions, voices have been raised about the ineffectiveness of these measures.
Source: Rossa Primavera News Agency
