When asked if the easing of sanctions on Russia would be part of a potential peace plan, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump said that he "doesn't love sanctions" in an interview with Bloomberg published on July 16.
As is often the case with Trump, he did not directly answer the question about potentially easing sanctions, but instead spoke about the subject generally.
"So what we're doing with sanctions is we're forcing everyone away from us. So I don't love sanctions," Trump said.
"I found them very useful with Iran, but I didn't even need sanctions with Iran so much. I told China that, and Russia is in a similar position," he added.
Trump has repeatedly promised to end Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine within 24 hours if elected but has not publicly elaborated on how he plans to do so. One plan reportedly involves ceding territory to Russia.
Senator J.D. Vance, who was recently chosen as Trump's running mate, is thought to be an even more outspoken opponent of U.S. support for Ukraine, and has openly endorsed territorial concessions as part of a potential peace deal.
The former president then quickly pivoted to bashing President Joe Biden and giving a long, winding answer on tariffs and economic relations with China.
Russian President Vladimir Putin laid out his conditions for a ceasefire in June, which included the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, the end to Ukraine's NATO ambitions, and the cessation of Western sanctions against Russia.
Trump was sometimes hesitant to impose sanctions on Russia while president, citing a desire to improve relations with the country.
But his rhetoric often did not match the actions of the administration, which introduced dozens of sanctions while he was in office.
Chris York
