MOSCOW, July 15 – President Donald Trump issued stern warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a more aggressive approach to the ongoing Ukraine conflict. Trump’s remarks, delivered alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the White House, included promises of increased military support to Kyiv and a warning was issued that countries continuing to buy Russian exports could face broad penalties if a peace deal isn’t secured within the next 50 days.
While the Kremlin refrained from an immediate full-scale response, spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described Trump’s statements as “very serious,” particularly those directly referencing President Putin. Peskov acknowledged that Moscow needed time to carefully analyze the implications of Trump’s comments but noted that they were already being interpreted in Ukraine as encouragement to prolong the conflict, rather than pursue peace.
Trump, positioning himself once again as a dealmaker and global negotiator, emphasized his frustration with Putin’s actions, claiming that Russia’s military strikes have repeatedly contradicted any peace overtures. Still, he said he remained committed to seeing an end to the war, which he claimed has already cost the United States $350 billion.
Blunt Words from Moscow
Despite the Kremlin’s relatively measured response, other Russian officials were far more direct. Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and now deputy chairman of the country’s Security Council, dismissed Trump’s comments as a “theatrical ultimatum,” asserting that Moscow has no interest in political showmanship. Meanwhile, senior diplomat Sergei Ryabkov stated that Russia would not be swayed by ultimatums, calling them both ineffective and unacceptable.
Trump’s approach has drawn global attention, not only for its aggressive tone but also for private conversations reportedly held with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. In one such exchange, Trump allegedly asked whether Ukraine could strike Moscow if provided with long-range U.S. weapons. While the validity of this report has not been publicly confirmed by either side, it further underscores Trump’s shift toward a hardline stance on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Despite his harsh rhetoric, Trump maintained that he is “not done” with Putin and still believes a peace deal is possible. However, his growing impatience with the Kremlin was evident. “President Trump referred to Putin as a tough guy,” deliberately avoiding the term ‘assassin’—a reference to a previous president Joe Biden remarks that had labeled the Russian leader a ‘killer’ in a 2021 interview.
Putin has yet to respond publicly to Trump’s latest statements, despite having held several direct conversations with him earlier this year. Instead, Russian media focused largely on the battlefield, reporting advancements by Russian forces and highlighting a recent Ukrainian drone strike that injured multiple people on Russian soil. According to Russian officials, their troops now control nearly 20% of Ukrainian territory.
Escalating Economic Pressure
Trump’s most notable threat came in the form of economic retaliation. He proposed a 100% tariff on Russian goods and emphasized the potential for secondary sanctions targeting countries that continue to buy oil and other exports from Russia. “We can do secondary,” Trump said during the Oval Office exchange. “We’re probably talking about 100% or something like that. We have the ability to impose secondary tariffs without needing approval from either the Senate or the House”
This potential move would significantly heighten the economic stakes for Russia, especially as key trading partners like China, India, and Turkey continue to import vast quantities of Russian crude oil. Russia, the world’s second-largest oil exporter, relies heavily on revenue from such sales to sustain its war efforts and economy.
In a further display of bipartisan support for escalating pressure on Russia, 85 out of 100 U.S. senators are backing legislation that would authorize Trump to impose tariffs of up to 500% on any country aiding Moscow’s economic activities. A White House official suggested that the president’s strategy is aimed at quickly forcing Russia into a peace agreement or risk total economic isolation.
The developments prompted a sharp editorial tone in one of Russia’s leading newspapers, which evoked historical betrayal by referencing the phrase “Et tu, Trump?” on its front page. The publication lamented that Trump, once seen as a potential mediator in the conflict, had seemingly joined the so-called “party of war.”
Putin, for his part, has consistently said he is open to peace talks, but only on terms favorable to Moscow. Russian officials insist that no meaningful negotiations can occur until the broader framework for a settlement is agreed upon, including territorial concessions and security guarantees.
As the conflict drags on, both Washington and Moscow appear to be hardening their positions. Trump’s insistence on a firm deadline for a peace agreement, coupled with threats of severe economic consequences, signals a shift in tone that could either bring the warring parties closer to the negotiating table—or deepen the rift even further.