U.S. President Donald Trump cranked up the heat on Russian leader Vladimir Putin to strike a peace deal with Ukraine, warning of harsher economic consequences if the war drags on. In a bold Truth Social post on Wednesday, Trump signaled he's aiming for a swift end to the ongoing conflict, a promise he says he can deliver before completing his second term in office.

"If we don't make a deal soon, I'll have no choice but to impose massive taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on all Russian goods sold to the U.S. and participating nations," Trump declared. While emphasizing he's "not looking to hurt Russia," he insisted that he’s doing Putin "a very big favour" by urging an end to what he called a "ridiculous war."

The message, delivered in Trump's signature style, came with a stark warning: "It's only going to get worse. Let's make this war history- either the easy way or the hard way. The easy way is always better. Time to MAKE A DEAL."

Under President Joe Biden, the U.S. has already imposed sweeping sanctions on Russia, especially targeting its energy sector. However, Trump's team reportedly believes there's still room to tighten the economic screws further. U.S. imports from Russia have plummeted, falling to $2.9 billion from January to November 2024, down from $4.3 billion during the same period in 2023. Fertilizers and precious metals remain key imports from Moscow.

While Trump avoided directly addressing whether he'll continue Biden's policy of supplying billions of dollars in weaponry to Ukraine, he hinted at ongoing discussions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and plans to speak with Putin soon. During a Tuesday press conference, he said it "sounds likely" he'd escalate sanctions if Putin refuses to negotiate.

Known for his deal-making ethos, Trump is betting his tough rhetoric and economic threats will force Putin to the table and bring an end to the war he claims would never have begun if he’d been in charge. Whether it's "The Art of the Deal" or the art of diplomacy, Trump is framing himself as the man to close this chapter of global conflict.