Washington, July 16: U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose “very severe” tariffs on Russia if a peace deal to end the war in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days, signaling a tougher stance toward Moscow amid continued civilian bombardments by Russian forces.
Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said the tariffs would be “secondary,” meaning they would target not only Russian goods but also those of its trading partners in a bid to further isolate the Kremlin economically.
“We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” the Republican president said. “I use trade for a lot of things. But it’s great for settling wars.”
Trump’s warning comes as Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities intensify. The United Nations said June recorded the highest civilian casualties in three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded. Russia reportedly launched 10 times more missiles and drones than in the same month last year.
Trump’s remarks mark a shift from his earlier stance. He had previously criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, accusing him of prolonging the war and calling him a “dictator without elections,” while suggesting Russian President Vladimir Putin was more open to negotiations. But after a deadly escalation of Russian strikes on Kyiv this spring, Trump’s tone hardened.
“It just keeps going on and on and on. Every night, people are dying,” Trump said.
The Oval Office meeting also focused on a revamped weapons pipeline to support Ukraine’s defense. Trump confirmed the U.S. will send additional Patriot air defense missiles, with European allies financing purchases of sophisticated U.S. weaponry.
“Billions and billions” of dollars in military equipment will be bought and transferred to Ukraine, Trump said. Rutte named Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark among countries participating in the joint initiative.
Rutte stressed the urgency of the effort, saying, “Speed is of the essence here.” He added that the strengthened military aid would likely pressure Putin to reconsider peace talks.
Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, met with Zelensky in Kyiv. According to a statement from the Ukrainian president, the two discussed air defense, joint arms production, and tightened sanctions against the Kremlin.
“We hope for the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its ambitions are stopped by force,” Zelensky said in a Telegram post.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius travelled to Washington on Monday for talks with U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Germany has already donated three Patriot systems to Ukraine and pledged to finance two more.
Germany now retains only six Patriots in its own arsenal, government spokesman Stefan Kornelius said.
Though the EU is restricted from directly purchasing arms, its member states are allowed to do so independently—something that is happening increasingly in coordination with NATO countries.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, said on Sunday the war is at an inflection point and that Trump is now showing “growing interest” in helping Ukraine after initially portraying the conflict as a misuse of American taxpayer funds.
“One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump,” Graham told CBS’ Face the Nation. “In the coming days and weeks, there’s going to be a massive effort to get Putin to the table.” Moscow appeared unmoved by the rhetoric. Kirill Dmitriev, Putin’s envoy for international investment, dismissed efforts to pressure Russia, saying dialogue remains possible.
“Constructive dialogue between Russia and the United States is more effective than doomed-to-fail attempts at pressure,” Dmitriev said on Telegram. “ This dialogue will continue, despite titanic efforts to disrupt it.”
