Trump Warns Putin Of Tariffs Over Ukraine War

U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to impose steep tariffs on Russian oil if President Vladimir Putin obstructs his plans to end the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, Trump expressed his frustration, stating he was “pissed off” at Putin.

He warned that if he believes Moscow is hindering efforts to broker peace, he will introduce secondary tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on buyers of Russian oil.

According to NBC, Trump’s anger was fueled by Putin’s recent criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s leadership.

Since taking office in January, Trump has adopted a more diplomatic approach toward Russia, raising concerns among Western allies.

However, his remarks on Sunday signal growing frustration over the lack of progress toward a ceasefire.

“If Russia and I can’t reach an agreement to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I determine that Russia is at fault, I will impose secondary tariffs on all oil exports from Russia, Russia,” Trump said.

“That means if you purchase Russian oil, you won’t be able to do business in the United States,” he added, specifying that tariffs could range from 25% to 50%.

Speaking to reporters later, Trump reiterated his disappointment with Putin but remained optimistic: “I think we’re making progress, step by step.”

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He indicated that the new trade restrictions could be enacted within a month.

Moscow has yet to respond, though Russia has previously condemned Western sanctions as “illegal” and accused the West of using them for economic advantage.

While spending the weekend at his Palm Beach estate, Trump told NBC News he planned to speak with Putin this week.

The two leaders have publicly acknowledged two phone conversations in recent months, though the Kremlin suggested there may have been additional undisclosed contacts.

The White House has not commented on when the call might occur or whether Trump will also speak with Zelenskiy.

Trump has made ending what he calls a “ridiculous” war a priority since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, though progress has been slow.

On Friday, Putin proposed placing Ukraine under temporary administration to facilitate new elections that could potentially remove Zelenskiy from office.

Trump, who has previously called for fresh elections in Ukraine and criticized Zelenskiy as a dictator, acknowledged his frustration with Putin.

However, he emphasized that their relationship remains strong, stating, “The anger fades quickly… if he does the right thing.”