Trump can end war in Ukraine by end of year, Zelenskyy's aide says

Head of Ukraine's Presidential Office Andriy Yermak said this in an interview with The Times.

Yermak believes the threat of secondary sanctions will be effective because it puts pressure on China and India, Russia’s largest fossil fuel importers, pushing them to avoid new trade conflicts with the U.S.

“Only economic problems are able to really press Putin and make him recognise that it is too expensive to him to continue this war,” Yermak said.

He stressed that the new U.S. sanctions are vital, especially as high oil prices this year have helped Russia finance its war effort. 

“These new sanctions from the United States are so important because unfortunately all this year the price of oil has given him the opportunity to finance his military machine. They will create very strong pressure on Putin and he will lose a huge amount of money. And the countries who buy Russian oil will also press him,” he added.

The Head of the Presidential Office added that "We will see the result before the end of this year."

• Earlier this week, U.S. President Donald Trump said he would impose secondary tariffs on Russia, which could reach 100% if a peace agreement with Ukraine is not reached within 50 days.