White House official: Trump means he will impose 100% tariffs on Russia, secondary sanctions on other countries that buy oil from Russia if a deal isn't struck in 50 days.

White House official: Trump means he will impose 100% tariffs on Russia, secondary sanctions on other countries that buy oil from Russia if a deal isn't struck in 50 days.

Title: Trump Threatens 100% Tariffs on Russia, Secondary Sanctions on Oil Buyers

In a significant escalation of U.S. policy towards Russia, President Donald Trump has threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Russia and secondary sanctions on countries that purchase Russian oil if a ceasefire deal with Ukraine is not reached within 50 days. This announcement comes on the heels of a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office of the White House.

Trump, who has been increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the ongoing war in Ukraine, stated that he would use trade as a tool to pressure Moscow. He emphasized that the U.S. would provide Ukraine with billions of dollars' worth of military equipment, including Patriot air defense missile systems, through NATO countries [1].

The President's threats are part of a broader shift in his approach towards Russia. Initially, Trump had promised to leverage his personal relations with Putin to negotiate a peace agreement. However, his frustration with Putin's actions has led to a more critical stance, with Trump openly criticizing the Kremlin leader as unserious in negotiations [1].

The announcement coincides with a visit by White House envoy Keith Kellogg to Kyiv, where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Zelenskyy expressed optimism about the talks, calling them productive and praising Trump for his support [1].

In response to Trump's threats, the Kremlin has maintained a muted response. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov framed the decision to provide arms to Ukraine as a continuation of U.S. policy [1]. Political observers in Moscow suggest that the Kremlin's response reflects an acknowledgment of dealing with a mercurial American president [1].

The U.S. move comes as oil prices continue to rise due to investor concerns over further sanctions on Russia. Brent crude futures and U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude futures both saw gains on Monday, reaching $70.51 and $68.59 per barrel, respectively [3]. The increase in prices is attributed to the possibility of additional sanctions against Russia, which could impact global oil supplies.

The threat of 100% tariffs on Russia and secondary sanctions on oil buyers is part of a bipartisan bill that has gained momentum in the U.S. Senate. The bill proposes 500% tariffs on countries that purchase Russian energy products, including India and China, which were the second-largest buyers of Russian fossil fuels in May 2025 [2].

The U.S. President has expressed support for the bill, which includes provisions for specific country waivers. This flexibility allows Trump to decide how widespread the sanctions will be. However, the bill still awaits his formal support [2].

Investors are closely monitoring the outcome of U.S. tariff talks, which could significantly impact global economic growth and fuel demand. The uncertainty surrounding tariffs has limited the extent of oil price gains, despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine [3].

References:
[1] https://www.npr.org/2025/07/14/nx-s1-5467272/russia-ukraine-war-trump-nato-weapons-tariffs
[2] https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/trump-threatens-100-tariff-on-russia-secondary-sanctions-on-countries-that-buy-russian-oil-101752514575235.html
[3] https://economymiddleeast.com/news/crude-oil-prices-rise-above-70-5-as-investors-watch-sanctions-opec-output/