The American president Donald Trump threatened the Russian leader Vladimir Putin with a 100% tariff if he does not end the war against Ukraine within 50 days.
"I'm very, very unhappy [with Putin]; we should have had a peace agreement two months ago," Trump said this Monday during a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
"If there is no agreement within the next 50 days, we will impose tariffs of up to 100%. They will be secondary, you know what that means," added the Republican, who emphasized that this is a war inherited from his predecessor.
Trump said that his conversations with Putin are “very pleasant, and then missiles explode at night.”
"I don’t want to say that he’s a killer, but he is a tough guy. He has deceived my predecessors, Clinton, Bush, Obama, but not me: there need to be immediate advancements," he said.
These statements, which represent a shift in the Trump Administration's strategy regarding the conflict, coincide with the announcement of the shipment of U.S. missiles to Ukraine.
"Today we have reached an agreement: we will send them weapons and they will pay for them. We, the United States, will make no payment. We will not buy them, but we will manufacture them and they will pay for them," he said regarding NATO members.
Critiques of Putin
Last week, Trump said that Putin “says a lot of nonsense” regarding the conflict in Ukraine, and he stated that he is considering the imposition of new sanctions against Moscow.
The statement was made during a cabinet meeting held at the White House, where other foreign policy and defense matters were also discussed.
Trump clarified that the legislative project approved by the Senate to sanction the Kremlin is "an optional law" and that its implementation depends solely on the Executive. "I am evaluating it. They approve it, but it’s completely up to me," he stated to the press.
Regarding the Russian leader, Trump expressed his growing frustration after several failed attempts at dialogue: “Putin throws a lot of nonsense at us. He often seems very nice, but those conversations end up being pointless.”
The U.S. president also justified the resumption of defensive weapon shipments to Ukraine, a decision announced this week after a pause attributed to internal reviews at the Pentagon. He added that he would push defense contractors to accelerate the production of military equipment in order to ensure Ukraine's responsiveness.
Diplomatic stalemate
At the beginning of the month, Trump held a telephone conversation with Putin that lasted nearly an hour and did not yield any progress toward a ceasefire. Moscow reiterated its determination to maintain the military objectives set at the start of the invasion, while Washington expressed its disappointment over the lack of results.
This is not the first time that Trump has openly criticized the Russian president. At the end of May, he went so far as to call him “completely crazy” after the massive attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas and warned that the Kremlin's actions could lead to its own collapse if the offensive continued to escalate.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trump's Threats to Putin and the Situation in Ukraine
What ultimatum did Donald Trump issue to Vladimir Putin regarding the war in Ukraine?
Trump threatened to impose a 100% tariff on Russia if a peace agreement in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days. This ultimatum reflects a shift in Trump's strategy towards Russia, increasing pressure to end the war in Ukraine. Trump's statements also coincide with the announcement of the shipment of U.S. missiles to Ukraine.
What is Trump's stance on sending weapons to Ukraine?
Trump has decided to resume the shipment of defensive weapons to Ukraine, after a pause due to internal reviews at the Pentagon. He assured that the weapons will be paid for by NATO members, not by the United States. Additionally, he committed to urging defense contractors to accelerate the production of military equipment, thereby ensuring Ukraine's responsiveness.
How has Trump characterized Vladimir Putin's actions in Ukraine?
Trump has been critical of Putin, describing him as someone who deceived his predecessors and labeling him a "tough guy." He has voiced his discomfort with Putin, even calling him "completely insane" after massive attacks against Ukrainian civilian areas. Trump also indicated that the actions of the Kremlin could lead to the collapse of Russia if the offensive continues to escalate.
What measures does Trump consider to pressure Russia to stop the conflict in Ukraine?
Trump has warned about the possibility of imposing secondary tariffs on Russian oil, which would mean that if a country buys oil from Russia, it would not be able to conduct business in the United States. Additionally, he has considered imposing further sanctions on Russia if a peace agreement is not reached. These measures aim to increase economic pressure on Moscow to stop its aggression in Ukraine.
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