Trump's Russia Sanctions Threat: A Gift to Moscow? | JQJO

President Trump's threat of secondary sanctions against countries trading with Russia, unless the war in Ukraine ends within 50 days, has been met with a positive market reaction in Russia. Moscow's nonchalant response and the strengthening of the ruble suggest investors doubt Trump's commitment, viewing the ultimatum as a reprieve rather than a credible threat. This undermines more stringent sanctions considered by the US Congress and highlights concerns about the Trump administration's credibility, lack of domestic accountability, and weakened diplomatic apparatus, rendering economic coercion ineffective.