Trump Urges Stronger Sanctions on Russia After Zelenskyy Meeting [2025]
Donald Trump has called for tougher sanctions on Russia, stepping up his demands after meeting privately with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy in Rome. This push follows a week of deadly missile strikes on Kyiv, with Russia intensifying attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.
The timing of Trump’s remarks matters. His stance marks a shift in U.S. diplomacy at a point when the conflict shows no sign of easing and international pressure on Moscow grows. New sanctions could reshape negotiations between the U.S., Ukraine, and Russia—raising the stakes for everyone involved. Readers tracking the Ukraine conflict will see how Trump’s call for action is adding fresh urgency to ongoing debates on how best to curb Russian aggression and support peace efforts.
Key Details From the Trump-Zelenskyy Meeting
In the wake of brutal strikes across Ukraine, the face-to-face encounter between Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican drew global attention. The context and content of their discussions go beyond headlines, revealing high-stakes diplomacy at a crucial point in the war. This section breaks down what you need to know—where they met, why the timing mattered, and how the two leaders pushed their different priorities on peace and territorial rights.
Context: The Vatican Meeting During Period of Escalation
The Trump-Zelenskyy meeting took place at the Vatican, against a tense backdrop of fresh missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and mounting civilian casualties. The clash in Ukraine had entered a sharper, more deadly phase—Russia had just launched a new round of strikes targeting Kyiv’s infrastructure and neighborhoods.
Photo by Antoni Shkraba Studio
Timing made this meeting stand out. The Vatican served as neutral ground, while the world questioned how to ease the violence or pressure Russia without deepening the crisis. Diplomats and military officials alike had their eyes on Rome.
The major talking points included:
- The prospects and terms for a ceasefire amid active fighting.
- The urgency for stronger international action, especially tighter sanctions on Russia.
- The future path for U.S. support to Ukraine as Congressional debate roils.
The Vatican meeting was both symbolic and practical. Symbolic, because it showed unified concern from Western leaders. Practical, because it placed clear public demands on Moscow and showcased the willingness for direct, high-level dialogue. Sources such as the National Catholic Reporter noted that both sides described the encounter as productive, framing it as a turning point in diplomatic communications.
Zelenskyy’s Perspective and Stance on Territorial Integrity
Zelenskyy arrived at the Vatican with a firm line—there would be no deals on Ukraine’s borders. He has repeated, both in public and in private meetings, that any negotiations with Russia must start with a full ceasefire and end with the complete restoration of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, including Crimea.
His position remains clear:
- Ukraine will not accept Russian claims over any occupied territory.
- Crimea is non-negotiable; it must return to Ukrainian governance for any peace to last.
- He rejects all suggestions of trading away land for peace or any version of partition.
Just days before the Vatican talks, Zelenskyy publicly dismissed criticism from international negotiators pushing for flexibility on Crimea, as reported by Anadolu Agency. He also reminded the world of the 2018 U.S.-led Crimea Declaration, leveraging Western commitments as backing for his hard line (Euromaidan Press).
The Vatican meeting crystallized the distance between leaders ready to bargain for a ceasefire and those, like Zelenskyy, who see victory only in full territorial restoration. His clarity on the issue shapes not just Ukraine’s war aims, but the nature and length of Western involvement going forward.
Trump’s Proposal for Stronger Sanctions
Donald Trump has drawn a sharp line when it comes to dealing with Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. After talks with President Zelenskyy, he’s calling for penalties that go deeper than past measures. Trump foregrounds the need for sweeping, targeted sanctions. He aims to hit Moscow where it hurts—its economy, technology, and ability to wage war. The push comes amid rising scrutiny of illicit Russian weapons deals and continued missile strikes on Ukraine’s cities.
Targeted Sectors: Banking, Energy, and Arms Transfers
Photo by RDNE Stock project
Trump’s proposed sanctions focus on three core sectors:
- Banking: Trump demands strict secondary sanctions on Russia’s financial system. He wants U.S. authorities to target banks linked to Moscow’s defense spending, hitting those that help process payments for banned goods or arms contracts. This would freeze Russian state banks out of the global dollar network, making it far harder for them to move money abroad or buy needed materials. The CBS News report highlights how Trump’s approach aims to leave few loopholes, driving up costs for Russia’s war effort.
- Energy: The energy sector, a major funding source for the Kremlin, is in Trump’s crosshairs. He’s argued for blocking new Russian oil and gas projects and tightening cracks in earlier embargoes. This isn’t just about crude; Trump’s advisers want to halt refinery upgrades, choke off liquified natural gas exports, and prevent Western companies from investing in Russian pipelines. By curbing energy receipts, the plan aims to shrink Moscow’s war chest.
- Arms Transfers (with a focus on technology): Trump has zeroed in on recent reports that Russia has used illicit missile tech, including advanced systems procured from rogue states. In particular, he voiced concerns about suspected transfers from North Korea, which have reportedly fueled Russia’s ability to strike Ukrainian cities. Under Trump’s tougher sanctions, any entity—foreign or domestic—caught aiding these arms deals would face severe penalties, risking being cut off from U.S. markets.
Several credible investigations, such as those referenced by CNBC, underline how these illicit arms links are creating new security headaches. Crackdowns would not just penalize Russia but also send a warning to its foreign sources and enablers.
Key takeaways from Trump’s proposal:
- Direct pressure on Russia’s ability to fund and supply its military.
- A clear focus on entities helping Moscow break international rules.
- A call for international partners to follow with their own secondary sanctions.
This new strategy would put global banks, oil traders, and weapons dealers on notice—back Russia, and you risk isolation from U.S. markets. The approach sends a strong signal about holding Moscow accountable for civilian deaths and escalation in Ukraine.
