Trump confident Putin, Zelensky will uphold Ukraine ceasefire
U.S. President Donald Trump expressed confidence on Monday that Vladimir Putin will keep his word and adhere to the ceasefire conditions in Ukraine. Trump reiterated that he had heard about Ukraine’s intention to withdraw from the commodity agreement.
What do you need to know?
- Donald Trump expressed hope that Vladimir Putin will uphold the ceasefire agreement in Ukraine. The U.S. President emphasized that he does not want to impose secondary tariffs on countries purchasing Russian oil.
- Trump mentioned Ukraine's intention to withdraw from the commodity agreement, though it was the U.S. that proposed new, stricter terms for Kyiv.
- The U.S. President warned Volodymyr Zelensky that refusal to agree to the commodity deal could lead to "big problems."
Will Putin keep his word?
"I think he's [Putin] going to live up to what he told me, and I think he's going to fulfill his part of the deal now," said Trump during a signing ceremony in the Oval Office of the White House. The U.S. President responded this way to a question about his earlier announcements of “secondary tariffs” on countries importing Russian oil if the fighting in Ukraine does not cease due to Russia’s actions.
Trump emphasized that he does not want to take this step and expressed hope that the Russian president will fulfill his obligations.
The U.S. President recalled that last week he imposed similar secondary tariffs on countries buying oil from Venezuela, which, he said, brought immediate results, even though the tariffs will not come into effect until Wednesday.
"I don’t want to go secondary tariffs on his oil, but I think, you know, something I would do if I thought he [Putin] wasn’t doing the job," Trump said.
Trump warns Zelensky: "Big, big problems"
The U.S. President reiterated that he heard President Zelensky wants to withdraw from the commodity agreement or renegotiate it. In reality, it was the United States that presented a new version of the agreement with much stricter conditions for Ukraine.
Trump added that Zelensky had set NATO membership as a condition for signing the agreement, again suggesting that Ukraine’s aspirations to join the Alliance were one of the factors behind Russia’s aggression.
Trump warned Zelensky that if he does not agree to the commodity deal—which he regards as a form of payment for the aid provided to Ukraine—he faces "big, big problems."
Trump on "America's Day of Rebirth"
During Monday’s ceremony, Trump also announced that Wednesday, when "reciprocal tariffs" will be announced on almost all countries worldwide, will be "America’s Day of Rebirth."
However, he cautioned that while the tariffs are meant to align U.S. rates with those used by other countries, his administration will be "kinder," suggesting that the actual rates will be lower.
