Trump Sets 50-Day Deadline for Russia to Cease Ukraine Operations or Face 100% Tariffs

Donald Trump, from the White House, issued a stern warning to Russia, giving it exactly 50 days to cease its military operations in Ukraine or face 100% secondary tariffs. In a press conference, Trump recounted his numerous phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which he described as friendly but ultimately futile. "I speak to him a lot about getting this thing done, and I always hang up and say, ‘Well, that was a nice phone call,’” Trump said. “And then missiles launched into Kyiv or some other city, and I said, ‘Strange.’” His tone shifted as he emphasized that the era of meaningless dialogue is over. “After that happens three or four times, you say, ‘The talk doesn’t mean anything.”

Trump had previously set a two-week deadline for Putin to take concrete action, but that was almost three months ago. Since then, Russia has continued its bombardment of Ukrainian cities, including civilian targets. This led Trump to post on Truth Social: “It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war; he’s just tapping me along.” He has now extended the deadline to early September, urging Moscow to agree to a ceasefire or face comprehensive trade penalties.

Trump reiterated the U.S.'s commitment to supporting Ukraine militarily, but through NATO. He clarified that the alliance would handle both the funding and distribution of weapons, not the United States directly. While he did not provide specifics on the types or quantities of arms being sent, his actions indicate a coordinated effort with European partners while maintaining pressure on Putin. “We’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump warned. “It’s very simple, and they’ll be at 100%.”

Secondary tariffs would not only affect Russia but also any other country conducting business with it. Trump did not specify which countries might be impacted, but such a move could disrupt global trade networks connected to Moscow. The announcement initially caused a surge in the Moscow stock exchange, which analysts attributed to investors bracing for more aggressive measures. Earlier reports had suggested the possibility of 500% tariffs, which did not materialize. As a result, traders reacted positively to the lower-than-expected tariff rate, despite its potential impact.

When asked about his response if Putin escalated further, Trump snapped, “Don’t ask me a question like that,” but followed up by saying, “I want to get the war settled.” He emphasized that Russia should focus on rebuilding its economy rather than continuing the conflict. “They’ve got to get their economy back on track,” Trump said. “Russia has tremendous potential.” He insisted that the country should leverage its resources for trade and economic growth, not destruction.

Trump also commented on a sanctions bill being discussed in Congress, which would impose harsher penalties on Russia. He acknowledged its potential usefulness but remained noncommittal. “I’m not sure we need it, but it’s good that they’re doing it,” he said. A few seconds later, he added, “I don’t want them to waste their time.” Trump left the door open, stating that the bill “could be very useful, we’ll have to see.” Senate Majority Leader is expected at the White House for a meeting, and a Senate vote on the bill is not scheduled until next week.

Throughout his exchange with reporters, Trump reiterated that his conversations with Putin continue but have not yielded any significant changes. “I speak to him a lot,” Trump said. “The conversations are always very pleasant, but the talk doesn’t mean anything once missiles hit cities.” He did not mention any upcoming negotiations or confirm whether Putin had responded to the new 50-day deadline.

With Putin continuing his military campaign in Ukraine and Trump threatening full-scale trade retaliation, all eyes are on whether Russia will change course or persist. If no deal is reached and the tariffs are implemented, they will severely impact Russia’s already-struggling economy and disrupt global trade with every country still doing business with Moscow.