U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a bold ultimatum to Russia, threatening sweeping economic penalties if Moscow fails to reach a ceasefire deal in Ukraine within the next 50 days.
Speaking at the White House on Friday during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said the United States will impose 100 percent secondary tariffs—punitive measures targeting countries that continue to trade with Russia—if the war persists.
“We’re very, very unhappy with them,” Trump declared. “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs—100 percent, you’d call them secondary tariffs—if we don’t have a deal in about 50 days.”
Trump said he was personally disappointed with Russian President Vladimir Putin for not securing a peace deal sooner. “I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn’t seem to get there,” he added.
Arms deal with Europe signals escalation
Trump’s warning came just a day after the administration announced a new agreement to sell U.S.-made Patriot missile systems to European allies—systems that could ultimately be transferred to Ukraine. Trump emphasized that while the United States would manufacture the weapons, European nations would foot the bill.
“We make the greatest military equipment in the world,” he said. “We’re not buying it, but we will manufacture it, and they’re going to be paying for it.”
This two-pronged approach—economic pressure and arms supply—marks a sharp escalation in the administration’s efforts to end the war, signaling a more forceful policy shift toward Moscow.
NATO chief Rutte backs U.S. pressure
NATO’s Secretary General Mark Rutte, who is also scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during his Washington visit, praised the move as “really big.”
“The decision is that you want Ukraine to have what it needs to defend itself against Russia, but you don’t want Europeans to pay for it, which is totally logical,” Rutte said.
He also warned Moscow of the consequences, stating: “If I was Vladimir Putin today and hear you speaking about what you were planning to do in 50 days, I would reconsider whether I should not take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously.”
Rutte noted the staggering toll of the war, citing over 100,000 Russian military deaths since January, and urged for meaningful peace talks.
Trump: “This isnvt Trump’s war”
Attempting to distance himself from the conflict’s origins, Trump reiterated that his administration is focused on ending the war, not escalating it.
“This is not Trump’s war,” he said. “We’re here to try and get it finished and settled, because nobody wins with this.”
He expressed optimism for a breakthrough, saying, “I think you’re going to see strong movement. I hope so… the secondary tariffs are very, very powerful.”
On the domestic front, Trump added that Republican lawmakers were mobilizing in the Senate to support his strategy, asserting, “We may not need it, but it’s good to have that support.”
A White House official later clarified that the president’s plan involves imposing 100% tariffs on Russia directly, as well as secondary sanctions on any country that continues to import Russian oil or engage in major trade.
The announcement adds urgency to the already intense geopolitical standoff and suggests that the Trump administration is ready to employ both economic and military tools to pressure Russia into ending its aggression in Ukraine.
By Alex Raufoglu
Chief Correspondent, Kyiv Post Washington Bureau
