President Donald Trump issued a bold warning to Russia and its trading allies on Sunday, threatening to slap a 100% secondary tariff on all Russian goods if Moscow refuses to come to the table and finalize a peace deal over Ukraine within 50 days.
During remarks at the White House alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said:
“I’m disappointed in [Russian President Vladimir Putin], because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn’t seem to get there.
“So based on that, we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs.
“If we don’t have a deal in 50 days, it’s very simple, and they’ll be at 100 percent, and that’s the way it is,” Trump declared.
The announcement represents Trump’s latest move to pressure foreign governments without dragging the U.S. into endless entanglements.
Secondary tariffs, in this case, would target other countries that continue doing business with Russia, marking a significant escalation in Trump’s America First approach to foreign diplomacy.
The president also made clear that this action does not depend on Congress, noting that his administration can impose these tariffs unilaterally.
“We can do secondary tariffs without the Senate, without the House, but what they’re crafting also could be very good,” Trump said, referring to legislation being drafted by lawmakers that could authorize tariffs as high as 500% against Russia’s trade partners.
Trump’s hardline stance was accompanied by frustration over what he described as a stalling peace process.
While the Kremlin has blamed Ukraine for delaying talks, Trump made clear that if Russia wants to avoid serious economic retaliation, it needs to act, and soon.
“We still await proposals concerning the timelines,” said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, according to Russia’s state-controlled TASS.
“The Russian side is willing to continue and hold a third round [of talks].”
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte met with President Trump on Monday as part of a two-day diplomatic visit that includes meetings with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and key members of Congress.
During the visit, Trump also revealed a new framework that would shift the financial burden of arming Ukraine to European allies, reinforcing his long-standing message that America should stop footing the bill for global conflicts.
“We made a deal today where we are going to be sending them weapons and they’re going to be paying for them,” Trump said.
“The United States will not be having any payment made.
“We’re not buying it, but we will manufacture it, and they’re going to be paying for it.”
Rutte backed the idea, calling Trump’s position “totally logical.”
The NATO chief confirmed that several countries, including Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden, are preparing to finance and send additional arms to Ukraine.
According to Rutte, the arrangement ensures both strategic efficiency and financial fairness.
“This will allow the U.S. military to better stockpile the weapons it needs for its direct needs, while ensuring Ukraine can also receive massive numbers of military equipment,” he said.
Trump’s unapologetic insistence on accountability, from Russia to NATO allies, is yet another sign that his America First doctrine is back in full force, unapologetically restoring U.S. strength abroad without sacrificing taxpayer dollars at home.
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