Trump's ceasefire confidence: Putin and tariffs in spotlight
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, expressed confidence on Monday that Vladimir Putin will keep his word and meet the conditions of the ceasefire 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 emphasised that he does not wish to impose secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil.
- Trump mentioned Ukraine's intention to withdraw from the commodity agreement, though the U.S. had 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 at the Oval Office in the White House. The U.S. President made this statement in response to a query about his earlier announcements regarding “secondary tariffs” on countries importing Russian oil if the conflict in Ukraine does not cease due to Russia’s actions.
Trump emphasised that he does not wish to take this step and expressed hope that the Russian President will fulfil his obligations.
The U.S. President recalled that last week he imposed similar secondary tariffs on countries buying oil from Venezuela, which, he noted, 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 reasons for 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 in the world, will be "America’s Day of Rebirth."
However, he cautioned that while the tariffs are intended to align U.S. rates with those used by other countries, his administration will be "kinder," suggesting that the actual rates will be lower.
