President Trump Threatens 25 Percent Tariffs on Russian Oil, Urges Putin to End Ukraine Conflict Amid Heightened Diplomatic Tensions.
Trump stated in a recent interview with NBC, “If Russia and I can’t agree on stopping the violence in Ukraine, and I believe it’s Russia’s fault – it may not be – but if I do, I’ll impose secondary tariffs on all oil exports from Russia.” This announcement implies a 25 percent tariff and suggests that Trump may speak with Putin soon regarding the issue.
Trump’s displeasure stems from Putin’s challenges to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s legitimacy and discussions about potential new leadership in Ukraine, as per the report.
Putin proposed on Thursday the installation of a temporary administration under UN supervision in Ukraine, a proposition that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres quickly dismissed.
Russian officials have consistently questioned Zelenskyy’s legitimacy, noting the absence of elections since the end of his term.
Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during martial law, which has been in effect since Russia invaded the country three years ago.
There hasn’t been an immediate response from Moscow to Trump’s comments. Russia has labelled Western sanctions as “illegal,” aiming to gain economic advantage against Moscow.
Trump’s statements followed a weekend of meetings with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
According to Stubb’s office, he advised Trump to set a deadline for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, proposing April 20 as a feasible date.
US officials are also urging Kyiv to consider a minerals agreement, which suggested the US might claim all of Ukraine’s natural resources’ revenue for an extended period. Zelenskyy has called for a legal review before commenting further on the proposal.
Last week, Trump applied a 25 percent secondary tariff on imports from any country purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela.
Trump’s latest comments suggest he might enact similar measures against countries buying oil from Russia, especially impacting countries like China and India.
Despite his anger, Trump maintains he has a “good relationship” with Putin, and believes the tension will ease if Putin takes the right actions.
