- विज्ञापन -
Washington: US President Donald Trump expressed strong frustration towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that he could impose additional tariffs on Russian oil unless Putin collaborates in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. In a recent phone interview with NBC News, Trump described his feelings towards Putin as “pissed off,” particularly in response to Putin’s comments questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s credibility.
“I was very angry—pissed off—when Putin started getting into Zelensky’s credibility, because that’s not going in the right direction,” Trump told “Meet the Press” host Kristen Welker, who reported on the conversation this Sunday, as noted by CNN.
Trump criticized Putin’s suggestions for new leadership in Ukraine, warning that such a shift would delay any potential agreements. He cautioned that failure to negotiate an end to the conflict could lead to secondary tariffs on Russian oil. “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 impose secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” he said.
When asked if he would engage in talks with Putin if the Russian leader “does the right thing,” Trump replied affirmatively, indicating he plans to speak with Putin this week. He mentioned that Putin knows of his anger towards him.
Trump suggested that tariffs could be set at 25 percent and could be enacted at any moment. On Thursday, Putin proposed a temporary administration in Ukraine under UN supervision, which UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres promptly rejected. Russian officials have repeatedly undermined Zelensky’s legitimacy, citing the absence of elections since his term expiration, while Ukraine’s constitution prohibits elections during martial law—a condition that has been in effect since Russia’s full-scale invasion began three years ago.
There was no immediate response from Moscow regarding Trump’s comments. Russia has previously labeled Western sanctions as “illegal” and aimed at exploiting economic rivalry.
Trump’s remarks followed meetings and a round of golf with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, who suggested that setting a deadline for establishing a ceasefire in Ukraine could be crucial, recommending April 20 as a date to consider.
US officials are simultaneously urging Ukraine to accept a minerals deal that reportedly demands a significant portion of the country’s natural resource income for years, although Zelensky indicated that his lawyers needed to review the proposal before further comments.
Last week, Trump announced a 25 percent secondary tariff on US imports from any country purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela, indicating a willingness to apply similar measures against countries buying oil from Russia—potentially affecting imports particularly from China and India.
Trump’s harsh criticism of Putin contrasts starkly with his previous comments about Zelensky and his calls for elections in war-torn Ukraine.
