by Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Staff
(Worthy News) – President Donald Trump on Monday issued his strongest warning yet to Russia, threatening to impose sweeping 100% “secondary tariffs” on countries that continue to do business with Moscow if a peace agreement with Ukraine is not finalized within 50 days.
“If we don’t have a deal in 50 days, it’s very simple–they’ll be at 100%, and that’s the way it is,” Trump said during remarks from the White House. “I’m disappointed in President Putin, because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago. But it doesn’t seem to get there.”
The proposed tariffs would not target Russia directly, but rather apply to countries that maintain trade relations with the Kremlin–most notably India, China, and others still doing business amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The deadline, set to expire on September 2, signals a sharp escalation in economic pressure as the Trump administration seeks to force a resolution to the war.
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later clarified that the president has broad authority to enforce tariffs or impose sanctions without congressional approval. “Those are both tools in his toolbox,” Lutnick said.
Trump emphasized that his decision to pursue unilateral secondary tariffs is separate from a proposed bipartisan bill in Congress, sponsored by Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), which would authorize tariffs of up to 500% on nations that continue to trade with Russia.
“We can do secondary tariffs without the Senate, without the House,” Trump said. “But what they’re crafting also could be very good.”
The announcement reflects mounting frustration within the White House over what Trump described as Russia’s lack of sincerity in negotiations. He claimed that while conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin have been frequent, they’ve yielded no results.
“I speak to him a lot about getting this thing done,” Trump said. “And I always hang up and say, ‘Well, that was a nice phone call.’ Then missiles are launched into Kyiv. And after that happens three or four times, you say the talk doesn’t mean anything.”
“Ultimately, talk doesn’t talk–it’s got to be action. It’s got to be results,” he added.
Despite Trump’s pressure campaign, the Kremlin has placed blame for the stalled peace talks on Kyiv. Russian spokesman Dmitry Peskov told state-run media that Moscow remains open to further negotiations and is awaiting proposals from the Ukrainian side regarding timelines for a ceasefire.
Monday’s tariff threat marks a dramatic shift in the U.S. approach to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. While Trump has repeatedly said he “inherited” the war, he has now moved to take direct action by leveraging America’s economic power to isolate Moscow and pressure its allies.
If enacted, the 100% tariffs would significantly disrupt global trade flows and place enormous strain on countries seeking to maintain ties with Russia. The move also raises questions about the global response–especially from large economies like India and China, whose trade relationships with Moscow remain robust.
With the clock now ticking toward the 50-day deadline, Trump’s ultimatum puts both Russia and its trade partners on notice: broker peace–or face economic consequences.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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