President Donald Trump is taking a tough stance on Russia after accusing President Vladimir Putin of deliberately sabotaging peace negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. In a no-holds-barred interview, Trump made it clear that if Russia continues to undermine diplomatic progress, the U.S. will hit back hard—with crushing tariffs and fresh sanctions.
“If we can’t make a deal to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine—and I believe it’s Russia’s fault—I’m going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump warned. He added that these tariffs could range between 25% to 50%, and would directly target foreign companies that continue buying Russian oil by banning them from doing business in the U.S.
A Peace Deal in Jeopardy
Trump’s warning comes after the fragile Black Sea ceasefire agreement—brokered by the United States—was rattled by renewed tensions. While both sides have accused each other of violations, Trump pointed the finger squarely at Moscow. He was particularly angered by Putin’s recent public attack on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which Trump said undermined trust at a critical moment in the talks.
“When Putin started questioning Zelenskyy’s credibility, that told me we’re not moving in the right direction,” Trump said.
From Frustration to Action
Trump’s frustration with Putin is a marked shift from the strong working relationship the two leaders have shared in the past. Still, Trump noted that he plans to speak with Putin directly in the coming days.
“I’ve always had a good relationship with President Putin,” Trump said. “But if he’s not serious about peace, we’re going to take real action.”
That “action” would include secondary sanctions and aggressive economic pressure to dry up Russia’s oil revenues—the lifeblood of the Russian economy.
A Clear Message from Washington
This isn’t just saber-rattling. The Trump administration is preparing a package of economic measures designed to escalate pressure on the Kremlin if peace negotiations fail to produce results.
A senior official confirmed that the administration is also looking at tightening access to Western banking systems, restricting Russian energy shipments, and supporting a broader coalition of countries to cut off demand for Russian oil.
Trump: “We’re Done Playing Games”
The message from President Trump is clear: peace through strength is still the policy, but America will not tolerate stalling, lies, or power plays at the expense of innocent lives.
“We want peace. But if Putin thinks he can play games, he’s going to find out just how serious we are,” Trump said.
The clock is ticking. The world is watching. And once again, President Trump is setting the tone for a foreign policy that puts American strength and global stability above empty diplomacy.