U.S. President Donald Trump has ignited a fresh round of tariff threats in a bid to shake up the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict. Speaking on NBC News, Trump said he was "pissed off" 😡 after Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the leadership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He warned that if he believes Moscow is blocking his efforts to secure a ceasefire, he could impose secondary tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on buyers of Russian oil.
Adding even more fuel to the fire, Trump’s comments followed a series of high-stakes meetings – including a surprise visit by Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who urged setting a deadline (April 20 was suggested) to ensure real progress toward a ceasefire. This mix of sharp rhetoric and urgent deadlines indicates a clear desire to see changes in the conflict dynamics.
This isn’t Trump’s first tariff move. Recently, he imposed a 25% secondary tariff on U.S. imports from countries buying oil or gas from Venezuela, and he has also threatened sanctions targeting buyers of Iranian oil if Tehran does not make concessions on its nuclear program. Meanwhile, backchannel talks between Moscow and Washington are exploring future economic cooperation, including joint projects on rare earth metal deposits.
With trade measures now at the heart of the diplomatic tug-of-war, markets and global players are watching closely. As tensions continue to rise and deadlines loom, all eyes are on the next move in this dramatic saga.
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Trump threatens new Russia tariffs as pressure grows to end conflict
cgtn.com
