U.S. President Donald Trump told NBC News anchor Kristen Welker that he’s “very angry” with Russian President Vladimir Putin and is prepared to impose “secondary tariffs” on all Russian oil if Moscow fails to negotiate a ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported on March 30.
“Just a few hours ago, President Trump called me to say he’s very angry at Russian President Putin and threatened to impose ‘secondary tariffs’ on Russian oil,” Welker said.
She also quoted Trump directly:
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” the President reportedly said.
According to Welker, Trump said those secondary tariffs would amount to 25% and could be imposed on Russian oil at any time.
She added that Trump plans to speak with the Russian leader this week. (In the United States, the week begins on Sunday.)
Welker said Trump told her he was especially angry over recent statements from Putin suggesting that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is illegitimate and that Ukraine needs new leadership.
On March 28, Putin floated the idea of establishing an interim administration in Ukraine—backed by the United Nations and several countries—to oversee “elections” and future “peace negotiations.”
The Russian dictator also repeated claims that Zelenskyy’s presidency is no longer valid and that other branches of the Ukrainian government “are not legitimate” either.
Back in January, during an interview with Kremlin propagandist Pavel Zarubin, Putin said he wouldn’t consider any peace deal with Ukraine binding as long as Zelenskyy’s 2022 decree banning negotiations with Russia remained in effect.
Putin further claimed that Zelenskyy could no longer repeal the decree, as he is “no longer the legitimate president.” He went on to suggest that Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, could theoretically overturn the decree—but claimed it had no interest in doing so.
Trump’s warning to Russia follows a similar move aimed at Venezuela. On March 24, the president announced that starting April 2, the U.S. would impose 25% “secondary tariffs” on any country that buys oil or gas from Venezuela.
“Any country that buys oil and/or gas from Venezuela will be required to pay the United States a 25% tariff on any trade with our country. All documentation will be signed and registered, and the tariff will be enacted on April 2, 2025—LIBERATION DAY FOR AMERICA,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
We all know what the outcome will be, just blah, blah, blah. Ukraine’s fault.
“and if I think it was Russia’s fault — which it might not be ..”
That pretty much says it all about this lying criminal and his gang of putler-rimming degenerates.
So, what is this pathetic president going to do about it? Beg putler harder? Bow lower?
Putler is unzipping his pants as we speak.