It’s “elementary” to suppose Vladimir Putin will reply to financial threats just like the one made by Donald Trump a short while in the past, says our international correspondent Diana Magnay. 

Trump threatened sanctions, taxes and tariffs on Russian items coming into the US ought to Putin not come to the negotiating desk. 

“There’s been no commerce of any significance between Russia and the US because the starting of this conflict,” Magnay says. 

“There’s nothing to place taxes or tariffs on that can in any means persuade Putin to alter his behaviour,” she provides. 

She additionally remembers that Trump typically boasted of his large sanctions on Russia in his first time period, however that they did not cease Russia launching the conflict in Ukraine. 

“We have now additionally seen that sanctions imposed by the worldwide group haven’t in any means deterred Putin from persevering with this conflict,” Magnay says. 

“So to really feel or argue, as President Trump appears to be doing, that he can use financial leverage on Vladimir Putin to finish this conflict, appears to be a really elementary means of viewing the character of the battle.”