US President Donald Trump has vented his anger at Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring that he is "p***** off" with the current war in Ukraine. He threatened to impose secondary sanctions on Russian oil if Russia fails to agree to a ceasefire.
In an interview with NBC on Sunday, Trump stated, "If Russia and I can't make a deal on ending the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I believe it was Russian's fault – which it may not be – but if I believe it was Russia's fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia."
He said the tariffs, which are 25 percent, can be imposed at any time and further stated that he plans to talk to Putin later this week.
It is reported that Trump was frustrated when Putin challenged the legitimacy of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and suggested new leadership in Ukraine.
Last Thursday, Putin suggested a temporary UN-governed administration of Ukraine, a suggestion which was immediately rejected by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
Russian officials have continued to question the legitimacy of Zelenskyy, observing that there have been no elections since his mandate expired. Still, according to Ukraine's constitution, there cannot be elections when martial law exists, and martial law has been in force since Russia initiated its all-out war three years ago.
Moscow has yet to react to Trump's comments.
Russia has consistently denounced Western sanctions as "illegal" and claimed that they are intended to advance the economic interests of the West in its geopolitical competition.
Trump made the comments after spending the weekend holding meetings and a round of golf with Finnish President Alexander Stubb.
Stubb's office released the fact that he pressed Trump to give a timeframe for implementing a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia and proposed April 20 as a possible deadline, which would be three months into Trump's presidency.
U.S. officials have already been pushing Kyiv reportedly to sign a key minerals deal. An overview of the offer revealed the U.S. wanted to have control over Ukraine's natural resource income for decades to come.
Zelenskyy said that the proposal had to be examined by Kyiv's lawyers before an answer could be given.
Trump later on Sunday, speaking from Air Force One, accused Zelenskyy of attempting to back away from the agreement.
"If he does that, he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump said to reporters.
"He wants to be a member of NATO, but he's never going to be a member of NATO. He knows that."
Trump's warning of secondary sanctions on Russian oil follows closely on the heels of his administration levying a 25 percent tariff on American imports from any country that buys oil or natural gas from Venezuela.
If this policy is extended to Russian oil, it would have a significant effect on big buyers such as China and India.
During his NBC interview, Trump admitted that Putin knows about his anger but also said they have a "very good relationship." He continued, "The anger dissipates quickly … if he does the right thing."
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