Donald Trump expressed being “very angry” and “pissed off” with Russian President Vladimir Putin after several weeks of trying to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine. In an interview with NBC News, Trump criticized Putin for questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s credibility and threatened to impose a 50% tariff on countries purchasing Russian oil if a ceasefire is not reached. “If Russia and I can’t make a deal to stop the bloodshed, and if I believe Russia is to blame, I will impose secondary tariffs on all Russian oil,” he said.
This represents a shift in Trump’s stance toward Russia. Previously, European leaders had been concerned that Trump was overly lenient with Putin during the ceasefire discussions. Over the past six weeks, Trump had pushed Zelensky for concessions while largely accommodating Putin’s demands. However, this new approach indicates a more confrontational tone, marking the first time the U.S. has threatened Russia with significant economic consequences for failing to negotiate a ceasefire.
Trump also criticized Putin’s attack on Zelensky’s leadership, calling it a misstep. “I was very angry when Putin started questioning Zelensky’s credibility,” Trump stated. He added that if the ceasefire talks faltered because of Russia’s actions, he would target the Russian economy with tariffs. “There will be a 25% tariff on oil and other products if there’s no ceasefire, and in a month, the secondary tariffs could reach 50% for countries still buying oil from Russia,” Trump warned, citing China and India as major buyers.
Ukrainian President Zelensky responded on social media, accusing Russia of prolonging the war and playing the same game since its 2014 annexation of Crimea. He called for a strong international response from the U.S., Europe, and other global peace-seeking nations.
