Trump downplays effectiveness of sanctions as he announces Aug. 8 deadline for Russia: ‘It may or may not affect them’

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TRUMP: ‘IT MAY OR MAY NOT AFFECT THEM’: On Air Force One flying back to Washington from Scotland, a tie-less President Donald Trump gave reporters what he called a “scoop” — Russian President Vladimir Putin, he said, would have “10 days from today,” or Aug. 8, to agree to a ceasefire with Ukraine, or face secondary sanctions.

While bipartisan advocates in Congress have described sanctions that would target countries, such as China, from buying Russian oil as a “sledgehammer” that would crush Russia’s already anemic economy, Trump seemed decidedly unenthusiastic about the move he has resisted for months.

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