Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a strong ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, demanding a peace deal with Ukraine within 50 days. If the deadline is not met, Trump has vowed to impose 100% tariffs on Russian exports and enforce secondary sanctions on any nation that continues to buy oil and gas from Russia. The dramatic statement came during a joint press event with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, signaling a sharp pivot in Trump’s foreign policy approach toward the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In his address, Trump criticized Putin for what he described as “two-faced” diplomacy. “He talks peace in the morning and bombs cities by night,” Trump said. He emphasized that the U.S. and its NATO allies would no longer tolerate prolonged conflict and empty negotiations. The ultimatum appears aimed at forcing Russia to the table through intense economic pressure, and Trump made it clear that any country ignoring the sanctions would also face repercussions.
Alongside the ultimatum, Trump announced that NATO allies would supply Ukraine with Patriot missile systems and other advanced defense weapons. While the U.S. will provide logistical support, the systems will be funded entirely by European countries. Deliveries are expected to start within the next few days, marking one of the most significant multinational arms support packages in the war.
Russia has responded with defiance. A senior Kremlin official dismissed Trump’s threats as “theatrical” and suggested they would have little impact on Russian policy. However, Russian markets responded positively, with stock prices rising slightly—possibly due to the temporary breathing room before sanctions would take effect. Meanwhile, oil prices remained steady as global investors processed the long-term implications of Trump’s statement.
In Washington, a bipartisan group of senators is working on the “Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025,” which could escalate tariffs up to 500% on nations importing Russian oil, reinforcing Trump’s strategy. The proposed legislation seeks to deter financial support for Russia’s war efforts by making oil trade with Moscow prohibitively expensive.
However, critics argue that Trump’s move could backfire. Some analysts fear that putting a rigid timeline on diplomacy might limit options for meaningful negotiations. Others worry that Russia will deepen its alliances with non-Western powers, thereby evading Western sanctions altogether.
Trump’s aggressive stance comes at a crucial time in the conflict, as the war has dragged on for over two years with no clear resolution in sight. Whether this 50-day deadline forces a breakthrough or leads to greater geopolitical tensions remains to be seen. What’s clear is that Trump is leveraging economic pressure and NATO partnerships in a bold bid to end the war—and the world is watching closely.
