In a bold policy announcement from the White House on Monday, former President Donald Trump warned that the United States will impose 100% tariffs on any country conducting business with Russia if a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days. The move signals a potential wave of secondary sanctions as Trump’s administration seeks to exert pressure not only on Moscow but also on Russia’s global economic partners.
Speaking from the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump stated, “We’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a deal within 50 days. It’s straightforward. And they’ll be at 100%.” He added, “We are heartbroken, I am, with Russia.”
Trump’s comments reflect growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly after several phone calls with the Kremlin leader reportedly ended in renewed missile strikes on Ukrainian cities. “I always hang up, say, ‘Well, that was a nice phone call.’ And then missiles are launched into Kyiv or some other city… after that happens three or four times, you say the talk doesn’t mean anything,” he said. “I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy… but he didn’t fool me.”
Alongside the tariff threat, Trump announced a new weapons deal with NATO countries. The United States will manufacture weapons that NATO nations will pay for and distribute to Ukraine. “We’ve made a deal today where we’re going to be sending them weapons and they’re going to be paying for them,” Trump explained. “We, the United States, will not be having any payment made.”
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte praised the move, emphasizing that Trump’s push for European nations to take financial responsibility for supporting Ukraine is “totally logical.” Rutte said Trump informed him of the decision in a phone call last week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that he spoke with Trump and expressed gratitude for the continued U.S. support. Posting on X, Zelenskyy wrote, “We discussed the necessary means and solutions with the president to provide better protection for people from Russian attacks and to strengthen our positions. We are ready to work as productively as possible to achieve peace.”
Meanwhile, momentum is growing in Congress to go even further. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) are advocating for legislation that would allow the president to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries continuing business with Russia, particularly those purchasing Russian oil and gas. In a joint statement, the senators called Trump’s tariff announcement “a real executive hammer to drive the parties to the negotiating table,” clarifying that the ultimate aim is not punishment, but peace.
Additionally, some lawmakers, including Rep. French Hill (R-AR), are pushing the administration to begin converting frozen Russian central bank assets into a trust fund for Ukraine. Hill argued that now is the time to act decisively. However, the Biden administration has so far resisted such action, citing European concerns over the potential economic fallout of seizing sovereign assets.
The proposed 100% tariffs and arms production deal mark a strategic escalation designed to apply maximum pressure on Putin and his allies. While it represents a significant show of strength and solidarity with Ukraine, it also raises the stakes diplomatically and economically on the world stage. The next 50 days may determine whether this aggressive posture succeeds in bringing about negotiations or if it further polarizes an already fractured global landscape.
