Trump threatens Russia with 100% ‘secondary’ tariffs if no deal on Ukraine

Voicing sharp frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose 100 per cent “secondary” tariffs on any country doing business with Russia if a Ukraine ceasefire isn’t secured within 50 days.

Speaking alongside Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump took direct aim at Putin as he also announced plans to boost arms sales to the transatlantic alliance in support of Ukraine.

“I’m disappointed in President Putin, because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn’t seem to get there,” Trump said “So based on that, we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days.”

The “America First” president declared that the US makes “the best missiles” and “the best of everything”, as he announced plans to send American-made weapons to Nato members, emphasising that European nations would foot the bill.

“The United States will not be having any payment. but we will manufacture it, and they’re going to be paying for it”, he said.

Trump explained that the weapons would be sold to European nations and then transfered to Ukraine, generating “billions and billions” of US dollars in revenue.