Top Zelensky adviser urges US to ‘strangle’ Russian economy with sanctions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s top adviser urged the United States to “strangle” the Russian economy with secondary sanctions, as President Trump’s deadline for the Kremlin to stop fighting or make a deal quickly approaches.

Andriy Yermak, the head of Zelensky’s office, said on Sunday that Russia’s economy is struggling, pointing to data showing a sharp decline in cargo transportation of key resources to and from Russia in recent months.

“Russia is losing momentum in what it recently considered its advantage,” Yermak posted to Telegram on Sunday. “Sanctions are working. The economy, geared for war, cannot withstand the pressure and relies solely on the sale of energy resources.”

“It is possible to strangle the economy with secondary tariffs proposed in the USA,” he continued.

Senators left Washington for August recess without advancing a major sanctions bill against Moscow that would impose significant tariffs on countries that import Russian oil. That leaves the decision in Trump’s hands.

Trump said on July 14 that Russia would face additional sanctions and tariffs if it did not stop fighting in Ukraine within 50 days, putting the deadline at Sept. 2. But last week, the president indicated he would push up that time frame to Aug. 8.

He told reporters that he’s unsure the sanctions would cause significant damage to the country, even as he pledged to follow though with his threat to impose them.

“I don’t know that sanctions bother him. You know? They know about sanctions. I know better than anybody about sanctions, and tariffs and everything else. I don’t know if that has any effect. But we’re going to do it,” Trump said.

Trump’s special envoy for peace missions, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Russia following a visit to Israel on Friday.