Trump's 50-Day Ultimatum to Russia: 100% Tariff Threat

US President Donald Trump has announced a plan to impose 100% tariffs on countries doing business with Russia if a peace deal to end the Ukraine war is not reached within the next 50 days. Trump unveiled this "secondary sanctions" plan amid his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

At a joint press conference with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the Oval Office on Monday (July 14), Trump stated, "If there is no deal in 50 days, we're going to impose secondary tariffs. It's very simple." He added, "These will be 100% tariffs." Trump made it clear, "We're very unhappy with Russia, at least I am."

However, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev dismissed Trump's threat on Tuesday. He wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world is shaking, expecting consequences. Warlike Europe is frustrated. Russia doesn't care."

Trump also indicated that the US has finalized a deal to sell weapons to NATO countries, and these countries will send weapons to Ukraine to replenish their stockpiles. Last week, Trump announced the resumption of military aid to Ukraine, emphasizing Ukraine's need for self-defense.

Trump said, "We made a deal today where we're sending them (NATO countries) weapons and they're paying for them. We, the United States, are taking no money. We're not buying, but we'll be making them and they'll be paying for them."

NATO Secretary-General Rutte described the agreement as "very big" and stated that Trump had called him last week to inform him of the decision. Rutte said, "The decision is, Ukraine will have what it needs so they can defend themselves against Russia, but you (Europeans) will pay for it, which is perfectly logical."

Despite multiple phone calls with Russian leader Putin since taking office in January, Trump expressed his frustration with Putin. He said, "I always put the phone down and say, 'That was a good call.' And then missiles would be fired into Kyiv or some other city and I'd say, 'That's strange.' After three or four times of that happening, you realize that talk means nothing."

Addressing Putin, Trump stated, "I don't want to say he's a killer, but he's a tough guy." He added that Putin had fooled other presidents, "but he hasn't fooled me." According to Trump, "Ultimately, talk is not talk, it has to be action, it has to be results."

Trump further elaborated, "We'd have a great conversation. I'd say: 'That's good, it sounds like we're almost there,' and then he'd blow up a building in Kyiv." Trump stated he had thought a deal with Russia was almost done four times.

BBC reported that when asked if his "relationship with Putin was over," Trump replied: "I am frustrated with him, but my relationship with him is not over. But I am frustrated with him."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on X on Monday afternoon that he had spoken with Trump and thanked him and the United States for their "willingness to support" Ukraine. Zelenskyy wrote, "We discussed with the President the necessary means and solutions to better protect the people from Russian aggression and strengthen our position. We are ready to work as productively as possible to achieve peace."

Some members of Congress are pushing for even stricter secondary sanctions on Russia. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal have proposed a bill in the Senate that would empower the President to impose tariffs of up to 500% on any country doing business with Russia. Graham stated on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" on Sunday that these sanctions would give Trump a "hammer" to end the war.

In a joint statement on Monday, Graham and Blumenthal said that the President's announcement was "a real executive hammer to bring the parties to the negotiating table." They stated, "The goal is not more tariffs and sanctions – the goal is to induce Putin to come to the negotiating table for peace." The Senators also indicated that they would continue their legislative work to implement tariffs of up to 500% on countries purchasing Russian oil and gas.

Graham also said on "Face the Nation" that the US has given Ukraine "a lot. We give them money, we give them military aid." However, he noted that there could be a "plan where America starts selling large amounts of weapons to our European allies that could benefit Ukraine."

Republican Representative French Hill, who led the bill on seizing foreign assets during the former Biden administration, stated on "Face the Nation" on Sunday that it is time for action. Hill said, "I think the President should transfer those seized assets to a trust account for the benefit of Ukraine."

However, no US president has ever seized the assets of a sovereign central bank of a country with which the US is not at war. Former US officials have stated that the Biden administration had refused to use that power due to opposition from European countries, as it could have had unforeseen consequences for their own banking systems and economies.