Tensions between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin appear to be rising, as the U.S. president admitted he was “very angry” over the Russian leader’s recent remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Ahead of his return to the White House, Trump had promised to end the war between Russia and Ukraine “quickly,” but progress seems to have been much slower than he clearly anticipated.
The conflict, which began in 2014, saw a partial maritime ceasefire reached in recent days. However, Putin recently called Zelenskyy’s leadership into question and proposed that the United Nations should install a temporary government in Ukraine.
Putin also suggested that this should be overseen by the U.S. and potentially some European nations – a proposition that didn’t sit well with Trump.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump didn’t hold back. “I was very angry,” he said. “I was p***ed off. That’s not going in the right location.”
He then issued a warning to Russia, threatening harsh economic consequences if peace talks fail.
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault – which it might not be – but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia,” he said.
“That would mean if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States. There will be a 25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil.”
Despite his frustration, Trump insisted that his relationship with Putin remains intact, saying: “He knows I’m angry, but I have a very good relationship with him. And the anger dissipates quickly… if he does the right thing.”
Later, speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump appeared to soften his stance, clarifying that he doesn’t want to impose secondary tariffs on Russia but was nonetheless “disappointed” in Putin’s remarks.
“He was supposed to be making a deal with me,” Trump said. “So I wasn’t happy with that. But I think he’s going to be good.”
The Kremlin has since responded, the BBC reports, with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov suggesting that Trump’s comments may have been “paraphrased” rather than direct quotes. He also noted that negotiations with Ukraine are still “ongoing” and described the Black Sea maritime ceasefire as a “work in progress.”
While Trump insists he can bring an end to the war, his clash with Putin raises questions about how much control he truly has over the situation – and how far he’s willing to go to prove he does.
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