After praising the Russian dictator, Trump is now turning on him, saying in a recent television interview with NBC that he’s ‘pissed at Putin.’
Trump criticized Putin for questioning the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and proposed imposing significant tariffs on Russian oil exports if a ceasefire is not achieved within a month. He suggested tariffs ranging from 25% to 50% on countries purchasing Russian oil, emphasizing the need for a ceasefire deadline by April 20, warning of maximum sanctions if the deadline is not met.
The proposed tariffs could significantly impact Russia’s crucial oil revenues and affect its military finances.
“I was very angry – pissed off – when Putin started getting into Zelensky’s credibility, because that’s not going in the right location, you understand?” Trump told Welker, referring to the Russian leader’s comments last week suggesting Ukraine be put under a “temporary administration” while the two nations work toward a deal.
He continued, “But new leadership means you’re not gonna have a deal for a long time, right? … But I was pissed off about it. But if a deal isn’t made, and if I think it was Russia’s fault, I’m going to put secondary sanctions on Russia.”
In response, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that Moscow is working on rebuilding ties with Washington and remains open to dialogue. He acknowledged that Russia views efforts to end the three-year war with Ukraine as a “drawn-out process” and emphasized the difficulty of achieving a resolution.
The situation in Ukraine remains volatile, with continued Russian attacks and ongoing disputes over mineral deals and other diplomatic issues. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for increased international pressure and sanctions against Russia, noting that there has been no reduction in Russian attacks.
