U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Russia on Monday, warning that the U.S. will impose 100% tariffs on countries that continue to purchase Russian energy if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within 50 days.
Speaking from the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump announced that NATO countries will begin purchasing weapons from the United States to be sent to Ukraine, including 17 Patriot air defense batteries, in what marks a significant reversal of his earlier campaign stance opposing further military aid to Kiev.
While Trump’s re-engagement with arming Ukraine echoes the Biden-era policy he once criticized, his latest announcement took a more aggressive turn. The president threatened to enact sweeping tariffs on countries trading with Russia—particularly those buying Russian oil and gas—if the Kremlin fails to halt its military campaign in Ukraine.
This marks a major shift from the approach taken under the Biden administration, which refrained from implementing secondary sanctions on nations importing Russian energy. Analysts have warned that Trump's strategy could prompt countries in the Global South to further reduce their reliance on the U.S. dollar in international trade.
In his remarks, Trump emphasized that the decision on tariffs would rest solely with him, dismissing calls from Congress to formalize such sanctions into legislation. “This will be my decision alone,” Trump said, signaling his intent to maintain executive flexibility and push back against bipartisan efforts to constrain his foreign policy tools.
The 100% tariff figure is also notable—lower than the 500% rate favored by Republican hardliners such as Senator Lindsey Graham. Trump argued, however, that “100% will have the same effect as 500%,” implying a calibrated yet forceful economic deterrent.
One of the most prominent targets of Trump’s threat is China. Any imposition of 100% tariffs on Chinese imports would effectively nullify a recently signed trade deal between Washington and Beijing and risk reigniting a trade war that previously disrupted U.S. access to critical rare earth minerals.
In April, Trump imposed 145% tariffs on certain Chinese goods, a move economists labeled unsustainable due to its impact on global supply chains and inflationary pressures.