Trump threatens ‘very extreme tariffs’ on Russia if conflict with Ukraine would not finish inside 50 days

US President Donald Trump on Monday declared that he would impose tariffs on Russia if a peace deal to finish the continuing conflict in Ukraine isn’t reached throughout the subsequent 50 days. The announcement was made throughout a gathering within the Oval Workplace with NATO Secretary-Normal Mark Rutte. Trump confirmed his intent to use financial stress on Moscow to speed up a decision to the battle. 

“We’re going to be doing very extreme tariffs if we do not have a deal in 50 days,” Trump stated. He didn’t present specifics on how the tariffs could be carried out. “I exploit commerce for lots of issues,” he added. But it surely’s nice for settling wars,” he added. 

Envoy Meets Zelenskyy in Kyiv

In the meantime, Trump’s particular envoy to Ukraine and Russia met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday, as anticipation grew over a potential shift within the Trump administration’s coverage on the three-year conflict. Rutte additionally deliberate to carry talks with US Defence Secretary Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in addition to members of Congress. Trump made shortly stopping the conflict one among his diplomatic priorities, and he has more and more expressed frustration about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unbudging stance on US-led peace efforts.

Trump’s frustration with Putin grows

Trump has lengthy boasted of his pleasant relationship with Putin, and after taking workplace in January repeatedly stated that Russia was extra prepared than Ukraine to succeed in a peace deal. On the similar time, Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the conflict and known as him a “dictator with out elections.” However Russia’s relentless onslaught towards civilian areas of Ukraine wore down Trump’s persistence.

In April, Trump urged Putin to “STOP!” launching lethal barrages on Kyiv, and the next month stated in a social media put up that the Russian chief “ has gone completely CRAZY!” because the bombardments continued. “I’m very disillusioned with President Putin, I assumed he was someone that meant what he stated,” Trump stated late Sunday. “He’ll speak so fantastically after which he’ll bomb folks at evening. We do not like that.”

Zelenskyy discusses arms with Kellogg

Zelenskyy stated he and Trump’s envoy, retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, had “a productive dialog” about strengthening Ukrainian air defences, joint arms manufacturing and buying US weapons together with European international locations, in addition to the opportunity of tighter worldwide sanctions on the Kremlin. “We hope for the management of the USA, as a result of it’s clear that Moscow won’t cease except its ambitions are stopped by pressure,” Zelenskyy stated on Telegram.

Talks on sending Patriot missiles Russia has pounded Ukrainian cities, together with the capital, Kyiv, with lots of of drones and cruise and ballistic missiles that Ukraine’s air defences are struggling to counter. June introduced the very best month-to-month civilian casualties of the previous three years, with 232 folks killed and 1,343 wounded, the UN human rights mission in Ukraine stated.

US, EU help Ukraine with weapons

Russia launched 10 instances extra drones and missiles in June than in the identical month final 12 months, it stated. On the similar time, Russia’s larger military is making a brand new effort to drive again Ukrainian defenders on elements of the 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) entrance line. Trump confirmed the US is sending Ukraine extra badly wanted Patriot air defence missiles and that the European Union can pay the US for the “varied items of very subtle” weaponry.

(With inputs from AP)

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