Media: Trump says he’s angry at Putin, criticises Ukraine peace talks As “going in wrong direction”

US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Russian President Vladimir Putin, expressing frustration over the lack of progress in peace talks aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

On March 30, Trump told NBC News that recent comments by Putin were unacceptable, signalling a shift in his stance toward Russia, Caliber.Az reports.

On March 28, Putin called for "interim governance" in Ukraine under the auspices of the United Nations, a move that would effectively push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy out of power. Trump reacted strongly, saying, “You could say that I was very angry, pissed off” after Putin's remarks questioning Zelenskyy’s credibility.

The President warned that should Russia fail to reach a deal, he would impose secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil. "If a deal isn’t made, and if I think it was Russia’s fault, anybody buying oil from Russia will not be able to sell their product into the United States," Trump stated.

This marks a sharp departure from Trump’s earlier praise of Putin, which had prompted tensions with Zelenskyy after a confrontation in the Oval Office. Trump had previously criticised Ukraine for its weak negotiating position, more than three years after Russia’s full-scale invasion.

In addition to his vocal criticism, Trump indicated that U.S. officials had conveyed his dissatisfaction to the Russian government, and he is expected to speak with Putin later this week.

While White House officials have described previous rounds of talks with Moscow as successful, the talks have yet to yield a breakthrough. Both Moscow and Kyiv agreed to cease airstrikes on energy infrastructure, but the attacks have continued, albeit at a reduced pace.

Trump has also advocated for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, though Moscow’s insistence on lifting sanctions as part of the deal has complicated matters. There have been stark differences between the official statements from Washington and Moscow, leading some former U.S. diplomats to question whether the two sides were negotiating the same terms.

Meanwhile, Trump remarked late Sunday that there is a “psychological deadline” for Russia to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, following his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking aboard Air Force One, Trump stated, “It’s a psychological deadline,” adding, “If I think they’re tapping us along, I will not be happy about it.”

He also expressed belief that Putin “wants to make a deal” but criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Trump suggested Zelenskyy was wavering on a deal for U.S. access to Ukraine’s mineral supply, saying, “We made a deal on rare earth and now he’s saying, well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal.” 

He further stated, “He wants to be a member of NATO. Well, he was never going to be a member of NATO. He understands that.” Trump warned, “So if he’s looking to renegotiate the deal, he’s got big problems.”

Although the Biden administration imposed significant sanctions on Russia after the invasion of Ukraine, it refrained from targeting Russian oil exports, fearing a surge in global prices. However, Trump is now threatening sanctions in a bid to increase pressure on Moscow.

According to Glen Howard, president of the Saratoga Foundation, Trump’s hawkish advisers are gaining influence, particularly as Russian negotiators have shown reluctance in discussions.

Trump’s growing frustration with Russia is also reflected in his recent social media posts, which described “Russian aggression” alongside China’s expansionism, arguing for U.S. strategic interests in Greenland.

While Trump did not elaborate on how secondary tariffs on Russian oil would be implemented, his comments follow an earlier proposal to impose similar tariffs on nations purchasing oil or gas from Venezuela. These tariffs could amount to 25%, adding to existing duties on China, potentially creating a 45% tariff on Chinese imports.

A move targeting Russian oil would likely have a more significant impact on global markets, as Russia is one of the top oil producers. According to Edward Fishman, a former State Department sanctions official, targeting Russian oil would be one of the most effective ways to put pressure on Moscow.

However, such sanctions could also raise fuel prices for U.S. consumers and destabilise economies reliant on oil exports in the Middle East and Africa. The Trump administration may find some room to manoeuvre, as global oil prices have dropped from over $80 per barrel earlier this year to around $70.

The concept of secondary tariffs, a mix of tariffs and secondary sanctions, is still in its early stages. For it to succeed, major buyers of Russian crude, including India and China, would need to view the threat as credible.

By Aghakazim Guliyev