Washington, July 30, 2025 – The Europe Today: Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday escalated his warnings to Russian President Vladimir Putin, declaring that the Kremlin leader has exactly 10 days to negotiate a peace agreement or face punitive economic measures, including sweeping tariffs.
Reinforcing threats he made a day earlier, Trump emphasized the urgency of a resolution to the ongoing war in Ukraine. “But we’re going to put on tariffs and the various things that you put up, it may or may not affect them, but it could,” Trump stated, signaling a possible broad application of economic tools to pressure Moscow.
The proposed measures include the imposition of 100% tariffs on Russian goods and secondary sanctions on countries continuing to buy Russian oil. While some analysts have expressed skepticism about the efficacy of such tariffs—given their limited impact on the Russian economy to date—Trump’s remarks suggest a renewed intent to leverage U.S. economic power in pursuit of a swift peace deal.
According to U.S. government data, imports from Russia to the United States totaled just $3 billion in 2024, representing a 34.2% decrease from the previous year. These imports now constitute less than 1% of Russia’s total export revenues.
However, attention is turning to the potential ramifications of targeting Russia’s energy sector. In 2024, Russia reportedly earned approximately $192 billion from foreign oil sales, making energy exports a central pillar of its economy and a key source of funding for its war effort in Ukraine.
It remains unclear whether Trump’s ultimatum, which comes amid speculation about his role in the upcoming U.S. presidential election, will influence Kremlin policy. However, the announcement adds a new layer of tension to U.S.-Russia relations and signals that sanctions and economic deterrents may once again become a primary tool in Washington’s approach to the Ukraine conflict.
