U.S. President Donald Trump has openly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time, saying he is “very angry” and “pissed off” over stalled peace talks regarding the war in Ukraine.
Trump expressed his frustration after Russia introduced new conditions before agreeing to a cease-fire backed by the U.S. The deal was meant to stop attacks on Ukraine’s energy facilities and Black Sea trade routes.
In an interview with NBC News on Sunday, March 30, Trump warned that if Russia continues to delay negotiations, the U.S. will impose strict tariffs on Russian oil within a month.
Previously, Trump had praised Putin, even calling him a “genius,” and suggested that Ukraine was partly responsible for the 2022 invasion. However, he strongly opposed a recent report that Putin wanted a transitional government in Ukraine, which would remove President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Putin reportedly suggested that Ukraine’s military should replace Zelensky, a move Trump condemned.
“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 put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump told NBC.
“That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” he added. “There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
Despite his harsh words, Trump maintained that he still has a “very good relationship” with Putin. He added that his anger would subside if Putin “does the right thing” by agreeing to a cease-fire.
The two leaders are expected to discuss the issue again this week as Trump pushes to fulfill his campaign promise of ending the war. The U.S. had successfully brokered two temporary cease-fires last week, but Russia quickly violated both agreements and later demanded that Europe lift economic sanctions on Russian businesses.
Trump’s latest stance signals a shift in his approach to Russia, as he applies more pressure on Putin to bring the war to an end.
