Trump threatens Putin with 'severe' secondary tariffs if no Ukraine ceasefire within 50 days
The US President was speaking alongside Nato General Secretary Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, where he announced an agreement with Nato to send 'top-of-the-line weapons' to Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters in the White House, Trump said he wanted to see the war in Ukraine end and that he was 'very disappointed' in Russian President Vladimir Putin that the conflict was still ongoing.
'I thought we would've had a deal two months ago, but it doesn't seem to get there,' he said.
'Based on that, we're going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days, it's very simple. They'll be at 100%, and that's the way it is,' he said, adding: 'I hope we don't have to do it.'
He did not provide specifics on how the tariffs would be implemented. However, secondary tariffs would mean hitting countries who trade with Russia with financial sanctions.
Trump also confirmed that the US will send weapons to Ukraine under a deal with Nato. The move is a U-turn from a decision earlier this month to pause arm deliveries to Kyiv.
Nato's Mark Rutte said Ukraine will get a huge supply of weapons to boost its war effort against Russia under the new arms supply deal struck with the US.
'It will mean that Ukraine gets its hands on really massive numbers of military equipment, both for air defense, but also missiles, ammunition,' he told reporters.
Trump said the supply amounted to 'billions of dollars' worth of munitions and weapons, including Patriot anti-missile systems.
Putin 'not an assassin, but a tough guy'
Trump has increasingly voiced irritation at Putin and the inability to resolve the now three-year-old war, which Trump promised he would promptly end as he campaigned to return to the White House.
Advertisement
He had long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin and repeatedly stressed that Russia is more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal.
But the latest announcement suggests that he is running out of patience with the Russian leader, who Ukraine has accused of deliberately stalling any potential ceasefire and having no interest in peace.
Asked today how he told Putin about the potential secondary tariffs, Trump said he speaks to the Russian president 'a lot'.
'My conversations with him are always very pleasant. I say 'Wasn't that a lovely conversation?', and then the missiles go off that night,' he said, adding that 'after that happens three or four times, you say, the talk doesn't mean anything'.
'I don't want to say he's an assassin, but he's a tough guy. It's been proven over the years. He's fooled a lot of people. He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden, he didn't fool me.
'But what I do say is that at a certain point, you know, ultimately, talk doesn't talk. It's got to be action. It's got to be results, and I hope he does it. It's potentially such a great country to be wasting to many people on this, and the money. Look at what's happened to his economy.
He knows what a fair deal is,
He said he dealt with Putin from the 'beginning', and that Ukraine was 'the apple of his eye', but that the invasion 'wasn't going to happen' while he was US president.
Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv today, as anticipation grew over a possible shift in the Trump administration's policy on the three-year war.
Zelensky said he and Keith Kellogg had 'a productive conversation' about strengthening Ukrainian air defences, joint arms production and purchasing US weapons in conjunction with European countries, as well as the possibility of tighter international sanctions on the Kremlin.
'We hope for the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its … ambitions are stopped by force,' Zelenskyy said on Telegram.
Rutte also planned to hold talks with US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, as well as members of Congress.
With reporting from Press Association
Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article.
Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.
Learn More
Support The Journal
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
7 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Blow for thousands of Irish as ECB ends rate cuts spree over tariff war fears amid ‘hikes could be on the horizon' alert
MORTGAGE holders were dealt a blow today after the European Central Bank decided to end its lending rate cutting spree due to concerns over the EU-US tariff war. The ECB have slashed their rates eight times over the past year. And the move has resulted in tens of thousands of tracker mortgage holders benefitting immediately with However, ECB President Christine Lagarde today froze the bank's lending rate at 2.15 per cent amid concerns about the economic impact of The decision means bills for Irish tracker mortgage holders will remain the same until the end of the year when rates are set to be reassessed again. ECB chief Lagarde warned that while inflation in Europe is back under control, there are economic storm clouds gathering due to the trade dispute between the EU and US. Read more in Money She said: 'Domestic price pressures have continued to ease, with wages growing more slowly. 'At the same time, the environment remains exceptionally uncertain, especially because of trade disputes.' Trevor Grant from the Irish Mortgage Advisors group warned that this is a major change of direction for the ECB and prospective homeowners should be careful. He said: 'Borrowers should avoid making large Most read in Money 'Even if there are one or two more ECB rate cuts over the next year, there may not be much more beyond that. 'Furthermore, borrowers need to be mindful that while European inflation now appears to be under control, if inflation starts to edge upwards in the EU again, ECB rate hikes could be on the horizon.' Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe breaks down Trump tariff impacts on Irish It comes as the EU today signed off on a €93 billion retaliation tax package aimed at the US if Trump pushes ahead with his threat of a 30 per cent tariff on European countries. The EU and US remain in talks to try to come to a new trade agreement with reports suggesting that a 15 per cent tariff on EU goods travelling to the US may be the final deal. The Irish Government lobbied to get goods that are important to the Irish economy excluded from the EU's list including pharmaceuticals and alcohol spirits. 'TIME FOR A DEAL' Tanaiste Simon Harris said: 'While we were successful in removing some key Irish sensitivities following intensive consultation with the European Commission, this package of rebalancing measures if implemented would have an adverse effect on European and Irish business. 'However let me be clear, while we do not wish to see this list ever come into effect, the EU must prepare for all eventualities and must be enabled to negotiate with the United States from a position of strength. 'That is why it is now long past time for a deal.' 1 The European Central Bank has froze the bank's lending rate at 2.15 per cent Credit: Getty
Irish Examiner
an hour ago
- Irish Examiner
South Park targets Paramount after signing $1.5bn deal and skewers Trump: ‘He can do anything to anyone'
South Park has kicked off its 27th season with a blistering episode taking aim at Donald Trump and its newly minted parent company, Paramount, just one day after signing a .5bn deal with the network. The premiere episode, 'Sermon on the Mount,' sees Trump in bed with series regular Satan and covers topics including Trump's lawsuit against Paramount, the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, wokeness, Trump's attacks on Canada and more. Unlike other characters, Trump is depicted as an actual photo of the US president on an animated body. There is also an extended scene featuring a hyper-realistic, deepfake video of Trump, completely naked, walking in a desert. There are repeated suggestions that Trump's genitalia are small. The episode centers on the presence of Jesus in South Park's schools, a story covered by a parody of 60 Minutes, in a clear satire of Paramount's recent embroilment with Trump over the flagship CBS News show. The two hosts refer nervously to 'the president, who is a great man' and who 'is probably watching'. When South Park's parents protest to Trump that they don't want Jesus in schools, and Trump threatens to sue them for $5bn, Jesus begs them to settle with the president. 'I didn't want to come back and be in the school, but I had to because it was part of a lawsuit and the agreement with Paramount,' Jesus says through gritted teeth. 'You guys saw what happened to CBS? Well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount. You really want to end up like Colbert? You guys got to stop being stupid... He also has the power to sue and take bribes and he can do anything to anyone. It's the fucking president, dude... South Park is over.' The townspeople eventually agree to pay Trump a much smaller $3.5m, but also must create 'pro-Trump messaging' – leading to the aforementioned video of Trump wandering in a desert, stripping naked. On Wednesday, the companies South Park Digital Studios and Park County, which are run by South Park's creators, Matt Stone and Trey Parker, announced a licensing deal with Paramount Global. The $1.5bn agreement confirms 50 new episodes on Comedy Central over five years, to exclusively stream on Paramount+ worldwide. The entire South Park library will also be made available on Paramount+ in the US. Dylan Byers, a senior correspondent at the media organization Puck, wrote on social media after the episode's release: 'Hard to think of anything more defiant in media & entertainment recently than Trey Parker & Matt Stone going scorched earth on Paramount in a South Park season premiere on the heels of netting a $1.5 billion deal with the very same company.' This deal also comes after recent contentious disputes involving Paramount. Skydance, which is controlled by the son of Trump ally Larry Ellison, is vying to take over Paramount Global, as well as Park Country. (Early this month Parker and Stone criticised the merger for postponing the season 27 premiere, writing: 'This merger is a shitshow and it's fucking up South Park. We are at the studio working on new episodes, and we hope the fans get to see them somehow.') The merger, however, requires the approval from the Trump-controlled Federal Communications Commission. When Paramount controversially settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16m over allegations that CBS News, which is owned by Paramount, committed 'election interference' in its editing of a 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, some critics alleged another example of capitulation by media companies hoping to curry favor with the US president. Then three days after Colbert, a high-profile critic of Trump, branded the deal 'a big fat bribe' on his late-night CBS show, Paramount and CBS announced it had cancelled the show. The South Park premiere alludes constantly to the events, with Cartman learning that his favorite radio show on NPR – where 'liberals bitch and whine about stuff' – has been cancelled by Trump. 'The government can't cancel the show. I mean, what show are they going to cancel next?' he says. Trump's character is also asked directly by Satan about the the 'Epstein list', referring to the unreleased files held by the US government relating to the convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, who was friends with Trump for 15 years. A political firestorm has erupted since the Trump administration's recent decision not to release any more documents. Satan asks Trump directly if it's on the Epstein list. 'It's weird that whenever it comes up, you just tell everyone to relax,' Satan says. The Guardian has contacted Stone, Parker and the White House for comment. - The Guardian
Irish Post
an hour ago
- Irish Post
Irish EEZ passed through hundreds of times by Russian shadow fleet
450 transits by suspected Russian 'shadow fleet' vessels have been recorded in Irish waters in the first seven months of this year. According to satellite data from maritime intelligence firm Windward, nearly 250 ships believed to be part of the covert fleet passed through Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) between January and July. The vessels are linked to efforts by Russia to sidestep EU and US sanctions imposed in response to its invasion of Ukraine. These sanctions target the export of Russian oil, which continues to fund the country's war effort. Many of the tankers are described by Windward analysts as ageing, under-maintained, and lacking proper insurance. They often operate under 'flags of convenience' from countries like Liberia, Panama, Malta, and the Marshall Islands, jurisdictions known for minimal oversight. Windward's analysis found that more than 70 of the ships that transited through Irish waters were directly listed in EU and US sanctions databases. During the first five months of the year alone, 40 vessels had clear Russian ties, including several flying the Russian flag and others owned by Russian companies. Their passage through Irish waters, often without docking, has raised the alarm among maritime experts and political observers. Ireland's EEZ, which stretches around 370 km off the west coast, is a critical maritime zone with several major international shipping lanes and undersea cables. Experts warn that the continued movement of these ships through Irish waters undermines international efforts to isolate Russia economically. 'These ships are like vehicles on Irish roads without an NCT or insurance,' said Tony Cudmore, a retired brigadier general with the Irish Defence Forces, to RTE. 'They're poorly maintained, possibly crewed by underqualified personnel, and pose a real danger—not just to the environment, but to Irish sovereignty.' Some shadow fleet vessels have been linked to damage to subsea infrastructure, particularly in the Baltic Sea. Recent examples include Sweden seizing a ship suspected of damaging a cable linking the country with Latvia, at the beginning of the year. Furthermore NATO launched its new 'Baltic Sea Mission' this year, after numerous cables were damaged in 2024. Another example is an open investigation by Finland, into suspected Russian sabotage into cables damaged between their country and Estonia. There are worries that similar incidents could happen off the Irish coast, where undersea cables are vital to global communications and trade. Several of the ships tracked this year have engaged in suspicious or high-risk behaviour, including turning off their location transponders or conducting ship-to-ship oil transfers. One such vessel, the Valentin Pikul, passed through Irish waters in March and was later involved in oil transfers near Murmansk. Others, including the Russian-flagged Bratsk, Belgorod, and Primorye, were recorded going 'dark' for periods while navigating near Donegal, Clare, and off the western seaboard according to Windward. The Irish Defence Forces said they monitor maritime activity continuously and share intelligence with national and international partners. The Irish Coast Guard, through its search and rescue and pollution response roles, also tracks ship movements and has detected multiple sanctioned Russian vessels in Irish waters since the start of the year, according to RTE A recent EU directive requires all vessels transiting through EU EEZs, including Ireland's, to provide valid proof of insurance, even if they don't dock. However, enforcement of such rules remains challenging. Earlier this year, German authorities seized a Panama-flagged tanker off the Baltic coast carrying 100,000 tonnes of Russian oil. The incident has been cited as an example of the type of enforcement Ireland could pursue. Despite sanctions from the EU, Britain and the US, including bans on over 400 Russian-linked tankers, Russia's oil export levels have remained relatively stable. The International Energy Agency reported an average of 7.5 million barrels per day exported in 2024, only slightly down from pre-war figures. Professor John O'Brennan of Maynooth University said the persistence of shadow fleet operations highlights a gap in enforcement across EU member states. 'Russia has successfully exploited inconsistent national responses,' he said. 'If countries like Ireland don't step up their enforcement efforts, these vessels will continue to slip through the cracks.'
