Russia Unfazed by Trump's Threats of 'Very Severe' Sanctions Over Ukraine War

Russia dismisses US President Donald Trump's threat of "very severe" sanctions over the Ukraine war, calling it a "theatrical ultimatum." Trump warned Putin of 50 days to agree to a ceasefire and threatened 100% tariffs on Russian exports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the US president's statements are "very serious," but former President Dmitry Medvedev and Russian diplomat Sergei Ryabkov dismissed Trump's ultimatum as unacceptable and pointless.

MOSCOW — Russian officials have dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump's threat of "very severe" sanctions over the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, describing it as a "theatrical ultimatum." Trump has given Russia 50 days to agree to a ceasefire, warning of 100% tariffs on Russian exports if the deadline is not met [1].

Trump's announcement came during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, where he also outlined plans to provide Ukraine with billions of dollars' worth of military equipment, including Patriot air defense systems [2]. The U.S. president has been increasingly critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of being "unserious" in negotiations to end the war [1].

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterized Trump's statements as "very serious," but former President Dmitry Medvedev and Russian diplomat Sergei Ryabkov dismissed the ultimatum as unacceptable and pointless [1]. Medvedev, who served as Russia's president from 2008 to 2012, tweeted that Trump's threat was "unacceptable and pointless."

The U.S. has been providing Ukraine with military aid since the start of the war, with the latest announcement coming as Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities have intensified [2]. The Ukrainian government has welcomed the additional military support, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy calling the meeting with White House envoy Keith Kellogg a "productive conversation" and praising Trump for "important signals of support" [1].

The U.S. has imposed various sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion, including tariffs and export controls. However, the effectiveness of these measures has been a subject of debate, with some analysts questioning whether they have significantly impacted Russia's ability to continue the war [2].

Trump's threat of secondary tariffs, which target countries and companies that continue doing business with Russia, could have significant economic implications for Russia and its trading partners [2]. The U.S. imports from Russia totaled $3 billion in 2024, a 34 percent decrease from the previous year, with fertilizers, non-ferrous metals, and chemicals among the most significant remaining imports [3].

References:
[1] https://www.npr.org/2025/07/14/nx-s1-5467272/russia-ukraine-war-trump-nato-weapons-tariffs
[2] https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/currency/US-DOLLAR-RUSSIAN-ROUBLE--2370597/news/Trump-says-Russia-facing-severe-tariffs-if-Ukraine-war-not-resolved-50503850/
[3] https://www.newsweek.com/us-russia-imports-exports-list-tariffs-2098792