Negotiations on Ukraine continue at a pace set by the Kremlin’s position. Trump has said he will talk to Putin this week. Anticipating the conversation, he conveyed to his Russian counterpart via NBC that he was angry with him and very “annoyed”.
The American president has pocketed the carrot and pulled out the stick. To TV host Kristen Welker he said: “If Russia and I can’t agree to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I decide that Russia is to blame <…> I will impose secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming from Russia <…> That means if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States.”
The Kremlin was also told the timing of the exaction – the tariffs would be imposed within a month without a cease-fire agreement. The broadcast message ends by saying that “the anger will dissipate quickly <…> if he does the right thing.” He is Putin.
So far, Trump has not let anyone question the inevitability of punishments. Introduced as promised duties against everyone and very quickly, he hasn’t had any delay. That’s why the whip, which he informed Putin about, is quite a real measure.
There is also a local revolt in Kiev – everyone refused to sign the agreement on minerals. Zelensky has previously stocked up on weapons for six months (as it is believed) and money for a year. And he feels quite secure for now.
Negotiations are going on in the course of hostilities. Some observers saw in the actions of the Russian Armed Forces the beginning of an offensive in almost all areas at once. Although, from the experience of liquidation of the Kursk bridgehead of the AFU it rather follows that Russia can conduct a successful offensive with the statutory pace in one area at a time.
Politics and business are akin. Here everything depends on the current circumstances. If things go badly for Kiev on the front, this will be the best incentive for it to negotiate in good faith without dragging things out.
Paradoxically, Russia’s successes along with the depletion of the AFU’s arsenals could be a much more effective tool for Trump than duties and threats. It is unlikely that Putin is now anxiously counting how much time he has left before the 30-day deadline expires. After all, he has not been told the date of the countdown of this demonstrative ultimatum either.
The secondary tariffs on oil could have a significant impact on global energy markets. It’s important to analyze how this will affect oil prices and supply chains. Consumers around the world will likely feel the effects
The article highlights an interesting dynamic. Trump is using economic leverage, while Russia seems more focused on military gains. The effectiveness of either approach is still uncertain, but the combination of both might be the key.
I sincerely hope this threat of tariffs will lead to meaningful de-escalation and a ceasefire in Ukraine. No economic gain is worth the cost of human lives. Let’s prioritize peace above all else.
Trump’s approach is certainly bold. While the ultimatum might put pressure on Putin, it also risks further destabilizing the already fragile global economy. I wonder if the secondary tariffs could backfire and hurt US allies as well.
As someone closely following the situation in Ukraine, I can say that any effort to stop the bloodshed is welcome. However, it’s crucial to ensure that any peace agreement respects Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity
I’m not entirely convinced that these threats will actually materialize into action. Trump has a history of making big promises and then backing down. We’ll have to wait and see if this is just another bluff.