End war within 50 days or face 100% tariffs, Trump tells Russia

President Donald Trump said that US could impose 100% tariffs on Russia if Moscow does not agree to a deal to end the Ukraine war within 50 days.

- Shashank Mattoo

“We're going to be doing secondary tariffs,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte on Monday. “If we don’t have a deal in 50 days, it’s very simple, and they'll be at 100%.”

A White House official said Trump was referring to 100% tariffs on Russian exports as well as secondary sanctions on other countries that buy its exports.

Weapons for Ukraine

Trump and Rutte announced a new scheme that would ensure a flow of American weapons to Ukraine through Nato nations.

“We're going to make top-of-the-line weapons, and they'll be sent to Nato,” Trump said, adding that Washington's Nato allies would pay for the weapons. The weapons would include Patriot air defence missiles which Ukraine has urgently sought to defend its cities from Russian air strikes.

“It’s a full complement with the batteries,” Trump said when asked whether he would send Patriot missiles specifically.