Jul 14, 2025
AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump warned Monday that he would impose steep tariffs on Russia if a deal to end the war in Ukraine isn’t reached within 50 days.
The Republican president made the remarks during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump said.
He said they would be “secondary tariffs,” meaning they would target Russia’s trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy. “I use trade for a lot of things,” Trump added. “But it’s great for settling wars.”
Why It Matters
Russian forces have recently intensified their assault on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, unleashing hundreds of drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles. Ukraine’s air defenses are under severe strain, struggling to intercept the growing volume of attacks.
June marked the deadliest month for civilians in Ukraine in the past three years, according to the U.N. human rights mission. The organization reported 232 civilian deaths and 1,343 injuries last month alone. Russia launched ten times more drones and missiles in June 2025 compared to the same month in 2024, the U.N. said.
Simultaneously, Russia’s larger army is renewing its offensive along segments of the 620-mile front line, putting additional pressure on Ukrainian defenders.
What to Know
Despite long touting his “good relationship” with Russian President Vladimir Putin—and insisting after taking office in January that Moscow was more willing than Kyiv to strike a peace deal— Trump turned sharply critical as Russia’s strikes on civilians mounted. He had previously blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for prolonging the conflict, even branding him “a dictator without elections.”
But Russia’s unrelenting bombardment of Ukrainian cities ultimately tested Trump’s patience. In April he publicly urged Putin to “STOP!” the lethal barrages on Kyiv, and the following month wrote on social media that the Russian leader “has gone absolutely CRAZY!” as the attacks continued.
In response to the escalating threat, President Trump confirmed Monday that the U.S. will send additional Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine. He noted that the European Union would finance the purchase of what he described as “various pieces of very sophisticated” U.S. weaponry.
“We should’ve had a deal done a long time ago,” the president said about the war in Ukraine. “Every night, people are dying… A lot of Russian soldiers are dying, by the way — and a lot of Ukrainian soldiers, too.”
Although the EU itself is prohibited by treaty from buying weapons, individual member states—as well as NATO allies—can and are actively purchasing and sending arms to Ukraine.
Rutte said Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark would be among the buyers to supply Ukraine. He added that “speed is of the essence here,” and he said the shipments should make Putin “reconsider” peace negotiations.
Germany, in particular, has stepped up. Government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius announced Monday that Berlin has offered to fund two additional Patriot systems. He added that discussions are ongoing about whether other European nations will contribute to financing more systems.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius traveled to Washington on Monday to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Germany has already donated three of its Patriot systems to Ukraine and now retains only six, Pistorius revealed in an interview with the Financial Times.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday, amid growing speculation that the Trump administration may be preparing to alter its stance on the three-year war.
Rutte was also scheduled to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and key members of Congress for further discussions.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal are also calling for swift U.S. action in response to Russia’s escalating war in Ukraine, pressing for the passage of a bipartisan sanctions bill.
The proposed legislation would authorize the president to impose tariffs of up to 500 percent on imports from nations that continue purchasing Russian oil.
Three Democratic senators, Jeanne Shaheen (New Hampshire), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts) and Chris Coons (Delaware), have launched a probe into the five-month pause on new sanctions against Russia. Under Biden, the U.S. imposed more than 6,200 sanctions against entities linked to Russia.
What are secondary tariffs?
Secondary tariffs are trade penalties imposed not directly on an adversarial country, but on third-party nations, companies, or entities that continue to do business with that adversary in violation of sanctions or restrictions. In the context of Russia, the U.S. could use secondary tariffs to pressure foreign firms—particularly in China, Turkey, or the Gulf states—that help Russia acquire goods or technology critical to its war effort. These tariffs aim to close loopholes and expand economic pressure beyond bilateral borders.
What does the U.S. import from Russia?
Before the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the U.S. imported several key commodities from Russia, including crude oil, refined petroleum products, metals like aluminum and palladium, and fertilizer. While energy imports have largely ceased under sanctions, some non-energy goods—such as certain metals and chemicals—still reach the U.S., though volumes have sharply declined. The remaining imports often support U.S. manufacturing and agriculture, complicating efforts to fully decouple trade.
Are there existing tariffs on Russia?
Yes, the U.S. has imposed multiple rounds of tariffs on Russian goods since the invasion of Ukraine, alongside sanctions. In 2022, the U.S. revoked Russia’s “most favored nation” trade status, subjecting nearly all Russian imports to higher duties. Additional tariffs targeting steel, aluminum, and other key sectors have also been layered on, with the Biden administration and Congress regularly expanding the list in response to the ongoing conflict.
https://www.newsweek.com/trump-new-threat-russia-putin-tariffs-ukraine-war-2098736
“Every night, people are dying… A lot of Russian soldiers are dying, by the way — and a lot of Ukrainian soldiers, too.”
No decent human being cares if ruskies are dying. It is even essential that they die, and the more that die, the better.
Have you noticed he never mentions anything about Ukrainian women and kids being murdered night after night.
Yes, I’ve noticed it. The prick always makes sure he mentions the ruskie losses, but never women and children.
“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump said.
We have heard all this BS before. Two weeks, two weeks and excuse after excuse to do nothing. Now it’s 50 days, then what, another 50 days?
I predicted a two-week delay yesterday, but 50 days is a surprise even to me.
Followed by another 50 days after putler plays him like a fiddle again.
Taco is the world’s fattest fiddle.