President Donald Trump on Monday delivered a sharp warning to Russia, threatening 100% tariffs if Moscow fails to agree to a peace deal within 50 days to end its war in Ukraine.
Meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump said he was “very, very unhappy” with Russia’s continued escalation, particularly the intensifying drone strikes on Ukrainian cities in recent weeks.
“We need a deal. And if we don’t have one in 50 days, we’ll impose tariffs—very severe tariffs—around 100%,” Trump told reporters. He said the penalties would include “secondary tariffs” aimed at nations still trading with Russia.
The remarks come amid what appears to be growing frustration from Trump toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy,” Trump said of Putin. “I thought he was someone who meant what he said. He speaks so nicely, then bombs people at night. We don’t like that.”
Trump had previewed his remarks by promising a “major statement” on Russia, and followed through by announcing the delivery of U.S. Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. He added that European Union member states—though not the EU itself—would help fund what he called “very sophisticated” American weapons being provided through NATO channels.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kyiv, according to a senior Ukrainian official.
Trump’s stance on Russia appears to be shifting. While he previously maintained friendly ties with Putin and often criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy—once calling him a “dictator without elections”—Trump recently posted online that Putin had “gone absolutely CRAZY!”
As diplomatic tensions rise, Trump’s new hardline rhetoric signals a notable departure from his earlier approach and places added pressure on Moscow to reach a resolution to the ongoing conflict.
