Trump warns Putin he'll be the next tariff target if the Ukraine war doesn't end
Trump promised during his campaign that upon his return to the White House, he would swiftly end Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File
- President Donald Trump said he'd impose high tariffs on Russia if it didn't end the Ukraine war soon.
- Trump said Wednesday that he'd also place taxes and more sanctions on Russia.
- "If we don't make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice," Trump said on Truth Social.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he'd impose high taxes, tariffs, and sanctions on Russia if its leader, Vladimir Putin, didn't end the Ukraine war soon — a largely symbolic threat because of the diminished trade between the US and Russia since its invasion began in 2022.
"I'm going to do Russia, whose Economy is failing, and President Putin, a very big FAVOR. Settle now, and STOP this ridiculous War!" Trump wrote in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
"IT'S ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. If we don't make a 'deal,' and soon, I have no other choice but to put high levels of Taxes, Tariffs, and Sanctions on anything being sold by Russia to the United States, and various other participating countries," Trump added.
Trump promised during his campaign that upon his return to the White House, he would swiftly end Russia's invasion, which is nearing its three-year mark and has seen high casualties on both sides. But on the campaign trail he left it unclear how his administration planned to bring Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the negotiating table, with many war analysts warning it will be difficult to get Putin to negotiate while his forces are advancing.
Prior to the war, the US imported $29.7 billion from Russia, the majority of which was oil, minerals, lime, and cement. But this trade cratered after Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, prompting the Biden administration to impose tariffs on many goods, metals, and Russian products.
Trump said in his Truth Social post that he was not looking to hurt Russia and that he has a good relationship with Putin. Hours after he was sworn into office on Monday, the US president said he was setting up a meeting with his Russian counterpart.
Nearly three years into the war, the US's limited goods imports from Russia leaves the Trump administration with little economic leverage to force Putin's government into peace talks.
Economic Data Editor Andy Kiersz contributed to this report.
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