Trump threatens 100% tariffs against Russia: ‘Agreement within 50 days or we will strike hard’

US president attacks Putin and announces agreement with NATO to send weapons to Kiev paid for by European countries

Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Vladimir Putin, threatening 100% tariffs against the Russian economy if an agreement to stop the war in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days. ‘Let’s call them secondary tariffs, they will be very severe,’ said the US president, speaking from the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. ‘We are very, very unhappy with Putin,’ he added.

Trump explained that he was ‘very angry’ with the Russian president: ‘I thought we would have had an agreement two months ago. Instead, missiles are coming to Kiev and killing 60 people. It has to end. It’s just words, and then they launch missiles: talking means nothing.’

In no uncertain terms, Trump commented: ‘I don’t want to say he’s a killer, but he’s a tough guy. He cheated Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden… but not me. After three or four times you think you’ve reached an agreement, and then you wake up and there’s an attack on Kiev, then you realise that talking is useless.’

The US president also confirmed that he had tried several times to reach an agreement with Moscow. ‘I thought I had reached it at least four times. But we keep talking and nothing changes.’

Differences with Congress and new tariffs
Trump’s proposal differs from the sanctions promoted by a bipartisan group in Congress: more than 80 senators are calling for a tougher package of measures, including up to 500% sanctions against countries that trade oil and uranium with Moscow. Trump praised the work of Republican senators, while arguing that ‘I already have the power to act. But okay, it could be useful.’

The president announced that Senate Republican Majority Leader John Thune will visit the White House to discuss the proposal.

Agreement with NATO on arms for Kiev
Trump then announced an agreement with NATO to supply weapons to Ukraine, stressing that the United States will not bear the costs. ‘We manufacture. The Europeans buy. We manufacture the best equipment in the world,’ he said. ‘Today we have reached an agreement: we will send the weapons, but our European allies will pay for them.’

NATO’s reaction
Secretary General Mark Rutte commented: ‘If I were Putin, I would start taking the negotiations seriously.’ Rutte described the agreement with the United States as ‘an important turning point’ and confirmed that several countries have already said they are ready to participate in the agreement, including Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Great Britain, the Netherlands and Canada. ‘And this is only the first wave. Others will follow,’ he anticipated.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)