Trump Warns Putin As Peace Talks Falter, Threatens Tougher Tariffs And Sanctions
President Donald Trump is ramping up pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin as high-stakes negotiations to end the Ukraine war teeter on the edge. In a string of public statements, Trump expressed anger over Putin’s recent remarks casting doubt on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership, warning that such comments threaten to derail ongoing peace efforts.
“I was very angry, pissed off,” Trump said during a phone interview, reacting to Putin’s suggestion that Ukraine needed a “transitional administration.” Trump said the timing of Putin’s remarks — as both sides struggle to uphold a Black Sea ceasefire deal — could stall progress indefinitely. “New leadership means you’re not gonna have a deal for a long time,” he added.
Trump walks back "pissed off at Putin" statement he allegedly made to NBC News.
"Disappointed, in a certain way" that Putin considers Zelensky "not credible." Zelensky was called a dictator, multiple times, by Trump. pic.twitter.com/fmQFaYn0yB— Alex Christoforou (@AXChristoforou) March 31, 2025
Trump warned that if he determines Russia is to blame for a failed deal, he plans to impose sweeping economic penalties. “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 — which it might not be — but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” he told NBC News. He also said countries that continue to purchase Russian oil could lose access to U.S. markets.
The threat comes just weeks after Trump openly criticized Zelenskyy, calling him a “dictator without elections.” Now, with both Moscow and Kyiv under scrutiny, Trump is pressing for cooperation on both ends.
Trump says he’s “very angry” and “pissed off” over Putin’s remarks criticizing Zelensky’s credibility.
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Putin’s push for a government change in Kyiv was paired with military action over the weekend. Russian drone and missile attacks hit several Ukrainian cities, including Dnipro and Kharkiv. Officials in Ukraine reported multiple deaths and dozens injured.
Still, Trump said he plans to speak with Putin again soon, despite his frustration. He noted their relationship remains strong and that his anger would “dissipate quickly” if Putin took steps toward a deal.
Trump’s earlier comments hinted at a broader economic strategy, saying he was weighing “large scale Banking Sanctions, Sanctions, and Tariffs” on Russia in a Truth Social post on March 7.
U.S. negotiators had helped broker a fragile ceasefire deal focused on shipping lanes and energy infrastructure, but the Kremlin has tied compliance to sanctions relief.