President Donald Trump expressed his outrage over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s leadership, stating he was “very angry” and “pissed off” by the remarks.
This comes after Putin suggested establishing a transitional government in Ukraine, potentially ousting Zelenskyy.
Trump warned that if a deal cannot be reached with Russia to end the bloodshed in Ukraine, he will impose harsh economic measures.
Specifically, he stated, “That would be that if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
The conflict in Ukraine has been ongoing, with both Russia and Ukraine agreeing to a partial ceasefire last week.
However, despite initial agreements, both sides continue to attack each other. The war has resulted in significant humanitarian and economic costs, with the international community calling for a lasting resolution. Trump has made ending the war a central foreign policy goal, but his criticism of Zelenskyy has sparked controversy.
Former President Joe Biden banned Russian oil imports shortly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, significantly impacting US imports. Since then, Russian oil imports to the US have drastically decreased, with a mere 10,000 barrels of Russian crude oil and petroleum products imported in 2023, as reported by the U.S. Energy Information Administration.