Russia Ridicules Trump’s Tariff Warning as ‘Theatrical Ultimatum’

In a recent interview with the BBC, President Donald Trump expressed his intention to continue engaging with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating he is “not done” with him. This statement came shortly after Trump threatened to impose 100% “secondary” tariffs on Russia unless a peace deal concerning Ukraine is reached within 50 days.

During the interview, Trump conveyed his frustration over Russia’s ongoing military operation in Ukraine, recalling several instances where he believed his administration was close to negotiating a ceasefire. He remarked, “We’ll have a great conversation. I’ll say: ‘That’s good, I think we’re close to getting it done,’ and then he’ll knock down a building in Kyiv,” in reference to Putin’s actions.

When asked if he was finished dealing with the Russian leader, Trump replied, “I’m disappointed in him, but I’m not done with him.” He further elaborated on his skepticism of trusting world leaders, stating, “I trust almost nobody.”

Regarding his strategy to persuade Putin to halt the violence, Trump stated simply, “We’re working at it,” without providing further details on his approach.

On Monday morning, Trump met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, where he announced his plan to impose severe tariffs on Russia. “We’re very, very unhappy with them, and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs,” he declared, though he did not specify the implementation details. These “secondary” tariffs would likely target Russia’s key trading partners, including China and India.

In response to Trump’s tariff threats, former Russian President and current Deputy Chair of the Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, dismissed the warning as a “theatrical ultimatum.” In a post on X, Medvedev ridiculed Trump’s announcement, saying, “Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care.” This was the first official reaction from a Russian government representative regarding Trump’s statement.