Trump loses patience with Putin: “the carrot is gone,” tankers and 500% sanctions are on the table

In Washington, irritation is growing over how Moscow is conducting negotiations on Ukraine: in the entourage of US President Donald Trump, the thought is increasingly voiced that the main obstacle to any agreements is Putin, not Kyiv. The British press describes this as a transition from “carrot and stick” to a phase where “the carrot is gone.”

The public part of this change in mood has already manifested: on January 3, 2026, Trump stated at a press conference in Mar-a-Lago that he is “not thrilled” with Putin because of the war and the scale of human casualties.

Signal from the sea: The US seized a Russian oil tanker

This week, the US moved from words to demonstrative actions. American forces boarded a tanker under the Russian flag and took control of the vessel. Western publications link this to increased pressure on circumventing sanctions and oil logistics, which bring income to Russia.

For Trump’s team, this looks like a clear message: sanctions are no longer just paper and lists, but a readiness to stop schemes that fuel the military machine.

“500% tariffs” as a tool of pressure on buyers of Russian oil

Simultaneously, a new sanction lever is being discussed in the US, which hits not only Russia but also those who buy its energy resources. The discussion is about a bill promoted by Senator Lindsey Graham, which provides for the possibility of imposing tariffs up to 500% against countries that continue to purchase Russian oil and thereby finance the war.

The idea is to shift the issue from “punishing Moscow” to “making trade with Moscow toxic.” This is a sharp step because it potentially affects large economies and supply chains, so there are many diplomatic reservations and disputes around the initiative.

London and Europe: Mood tougher than recently

Against this backdrop, discussions about security guarantees for Ukraine are intensifying in London and European capitals. It was reported that representatives of the British government discussed these issues in Washington with the American leadership, and the topic of future support for Kyiv has once again come to the forefront.

Moscow, meanwhile, continues its intimidation line: statements that any deployment of Western forces on Ukrainian territory will be considered a “legitimate target” are perceived in Europe as an element of strategy — to buy time and simultaneously increase the cost of any decision.

Why this is important for Trump right now

Trump ran for election with the promise to show results and “close” the war with a political solution. But the longer the process drags on, the higher the political cost: every “let’s wait a little longer” turns into a question for the administration itself — where are the levers, where is the pressure, where is the resolution.

Hence the logic of the current steps: the maritime operation against the tanker plus the promotion of a sanctions package that could hit buyers of Russian oil is an attempt to force the Kremlin to choose not the pace of “two steps forward — one step back,” but specific concessions.

What this changes for Ukraine and Europe

For Kyiv, the key question is whether these signals will continue or remain isolated episodes. If the seizure of the tanker and the promotion of the bill become the start of a new line, it means the focus is on the economic and logistical strangulation of Russia’s income sources.

For Europe, the main risk is normalization. If Moscow’s threats and demonstrative actions cease to provoke a reaction, the boundary of the permissible slowly shifts closer to the EU. That is why European capitals are closely watching not only Trump’s statements but also how ready the administration is to back them up with actions.

The current picture is this: Trump publicly distances himself from previous “warm formulations,” his entourage increasingly calls Putin an obstacle to peace, and the pressure tools are becoming tougher — from sanction schemes to maritime interceptions. How this will end will become clear in the coming weeks — and it is worth following this together with NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency.