Trump threatens secondary tariffs on Russian oil if unable to make deal on Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday (March 30, 2025) he will impose secondary tariffs of 25% to 50% on all Russian oil if he feels Moscow is blocking his efforts to end the war in Ukraine, and they could start within a month if there is no ceasefire.

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Mr. Trump told NBC News he was angry and “pissed off” when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership, NBC reported.

Mr. Trump told NBC News by phone that he planned to speak with Mr. Putin this week.

During his 2024 presidential campaign, Mr. Trump promised repeatedly to end what he calls a “ridiculous” war in Ukraine, and he has focused heavily on the issue since taking office on January 20. Mr. Trump himself has called for new elections in Ukraine and falsely called Mr. Zelenskyy a dictator.

Also Read | Russia, Ukraine agree to end Black Sea military action: U.S.

Mr. Putin on Friday suggested Ukraine could be placed under a form of temporary administration to allow for new elections and the signature of key accords, which could effectively push out Mr. Zelenskyy.

“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 … I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” Mr. Trump said.

“That would be, that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” Trump said. “There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”

He said the tariffs on Russian oil would come within a month without a ceasefire deal.

Mr. Trump said Putin knows he is angry with him, but said he had “a very good relationship with him” and “the anger dissipates quickly … if he does the right thing.”