Wed Jul 16 12:23:24 UTC 2025: **News Article:**

**Trump Threatens Russia with “Severe Tariffs” Over Ukraine, Experts See Little Impact**

Washington D.C. – President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Russia on Monday, threatening “very severe tariffs” if a peace agreement is not reached in the Ukraine war within the next 50 days. The President also unveiled plans to supply Ukraine with additional weaponry, funded through NATO.

“We’re going to make top-of-the-line weapons, and they’ll be sent to NATO,” Trump said, adding that NATO would pay for them. He added that this would include the Patriot air defence missiles that Ukraine has sought urgently. He specified potential tariffs of 100 percent.

Trump’s tough stance comes after multiple unsuccessful attempts to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, including failed peace talks and a refusal by President Vladimir Putin to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

While the United States and its allies have already imposed extensive sanctions on Russia, Trump’s threat of “secondary tariffs” could have a significant impact on countries like India, China, and Türkiye that rely heavily on Russian oil. Some European nations could also be affected by tariffs on Russian uranium.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov acknowledged the seriousness of Trump’s statements, stating, “We certainly need time to analyze what was said in Washington.” However, Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian president and current deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, dismissed the ultimatum as a “theatrical” gesture, adding that Russia does not care about Trump’s “theatrical ultimatum”.

Despite the potential economic ramifications, experts believe Russia is unlikely to alter its course in Ukraine. Marina Miron, a postdoctoral researcher at King’s College London, said that the Patriot missile systems that Trump has pledged to sell to Ukraine are long-range air defences best suited for shooting down ballistic missiles such as Russia’s Iskander M. She stated that most Russian officials have not responded to Trump’s threat. “If you were to describe Russia’s approach, it’s ‘keep calm and carry on,” Miron said.

The Russian stock market showed little reaction to Trump’s threats, and the rouble, while initially weakening, recovered quickly. Analysts suggest that Putin’s goals, including territorial gains in Ukraine and preventing its NATO membership, remain unchanged.

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