Trump Could End War in Ukraine by 2025 With Secondary Sanctions on Russian Oil, Yermak Says

Andriy Yermak, President Zelenskyy’s top advisor, believes that US President Donald Trump can bring an end to the war in Ukraine “before the end of this year” by following through on his threat of significant new sanctions against countries buying Russian oil and gas, he said in an interview on July 17.

Yermak pointed out that the threat of secondary sanctions would not only pressure Russia but also force key Russian oil importers, particularly China and India, to push for a peace deal to avoid trade wars with the US.

He emphasized that only economic pressure could compel Russian President Vladimir Putin to negotiate: “Only economic problems are able to really press Putin and make him recognize that it is too expensive to continue this war.”

In an interview with The Times’ The General and The Journalist podcast, Yermak argued that Trump’s sanctions would make a profound impact.

“These new sanctions from the United States are so important because, unfortunately, the price of oil has given him the opportunity to finance his military machine,” he said.

Yermak believes that the secondary sanctions would hit Russia’s economy hard and force those nations buying Russian oil to turn on Putin.

In line with these sanctions, Trump’s plan involves levying 100% tariffs on any goods coming into the US from countries that import Russian products. The US president also committed to sending additional military support, including Patriot missile systems, to Ukraine, alongside unspecified “top-of-the-line” US weapons.

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Yermak voiced confidence that Trump will follow through with his sanctions plan, despite pushback from Russian officials.

“I am absolutely optimistic that Trump will not back down. He knows Putin doesn’t want to stop this war now. And he knows how successful peace through strength was with Iran,” Yermak noted.

As for the US and Ukraine’s collaboration, Yermak explained that there is a growing personal relationship between Zelenskyy and Trump. He described a recent phone call between the two leaders as “constructive” and “very productive.”

Yermak also acknowledged the fatigue felt by Ukrainians after more than three years of war but drew comparisons to the resilience of the British during World War II: “Did the bombing of London break the spirit of the British? No. We have no other land, we do not have another country. We are fighting for our families, for our children,” advisor stated.

Earlier, it was reported that President Trump is considering a significant expansion of sanctions targeting Russian oil exports, including a potential global 500% tariff on Russian crude, affecting countries like China, India, and Turkey that continue to purchase its energy resources.