Donald Trump is ‘Pissed Off’ at Putin, Issues Threat

President Donald Trump is turning up the heat on Vladimir Putin—publicly—and he’s not holding back.

In a fiery call to NBC’s Kristen Welker, Trump said he’s “pissed off” over what he calls Russia’s stalling tactics in efforts to end the war in Ukraine. He warned that unless Putin moves quickly to strike a peace deal, the U.S. could slap devastating secondary tariffs on Russian oil—and possibly more.

“If I think it’s Russia’s fault—which it might not be—but if I do, I’ll put a 25 to 50 percent tariff on all Russian oil,” Trump told Welker. “And if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States. Period.”

Why It Matters Now

The threat marks a dramatic shift in Trump’s tone—and could reshape U.S.-Russia relations. Trump campaigned hard on ending the Ukraine war, claiming he’d do it in 24 hours. But since taking office, the path to peace has been anything but quick or simple.

In February, Trump’s White House talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky turned tense. The two clashed in front of reporters. Zelensky left without finalizing a proposed U.S.-Ukraine resource deal, and Trump briefly froze military aid and intelligence sharing. That freeze was lifted earlier this month after pressure from Congress and the Pentagon.

At the same time, the U.S. helped broker a limited Black Sea ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia in Saudi Arabia. Still, full peace remains elusive.

Putin’s Power Play Backfires

Putin escalated tensions last week by suggesting Ukraine should adopt a “transitional government” as part of any ceasefire—a move widely seen as a way to sideline Zelensky.

Trump was blunt: “That kind of talk? It’s not going in the right location.”

The Kremlin’s demand runs up against Ukraine’s constitution, which prohibits elections during wartime. Kyiv rejected Putin’s proposal outright.

Inna Sovsun, a Ukrainian MP, called Putin’s offer “a pathetic attempt to portray Ukraine as a failed state,” adding on X: “The only country that desperately needs real elections is Russia.”

The Economic Hammer

Trump’s threat isn’t just rhetorical—it could have serious global consequences. The U.S. doesn’t import much from Russia directly, so standard tariffs wouldn’t move the needle. But secondary sanctions—targeting countries or firms that buy Russian oil—could disrupt global markets.

Yaroslav Trofimov of The Wall Street Journal wrote on X: “The U.S. buys virtually nothing from Russia, so primary tariffs are meaningless. But secondary sanctions could make it much harder for Russia to export oil to major customers like India and even China.”

Trump hinted that more sanctions could follow: “Other products sold in the U.S. from Russia? They’re on the table. A lot can happen in 30 days.”

Zelensky: Still Talking

Despite the tensions, Ukrainian President Zelensky confirmed this week that discussions continue.

“After the framework deal, a full agreement is being developed. The U.S. has offered us a major deal, their vision,” Zelensky said Tuesday.

But the clock is ticking—and Trump knows it. According to Welker, the president said he’s scheduled to speak with Putin again this week.

What Comes Next

Whether Trump’s tariff threats will bring Putin to the table—or further inflame the situation—remains to be seen.

For now, it’s clear: Trump’s patience with Putin is wearing thin. And he’s not afraid to flex America’s economic muscle to force an end to the war.

As Trump put it, “I’ve always had a good relationship with him. But anger dissipates quickly—if he does the right thing.”