US' secondary sanctions no use in ending crisis

Some European politicians were jubilant after US President Donald Trump made a U-turn on the Russia-Ukraine conflict on Monday by threatening to impose secondary sanctions on Russia in 50 days and vowing to continue supplying weapons to Ukraine — and adding that European NATO members would pay for it.

European leaders have been frustrated with Trump over his reluctance to support Ukraine and his cozying up to Russia. In particular, they were infuriated when Trump humiliated Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during a live broadcast from the White House in late February.

However, Trump's 180-degree turn on Monday is being seen by some as his return to the policy of his predecessor Joe Biden, who turned the conflict into a proxy war between the US and Russia.