Trump warns of secondary tariffs on Russian oil if ceasefire agreement fails

U.S. President Donald Trump is ramping up his rhetoric on both Russia and Ukraine with regard to sealing a ceasefire deal.

He's threatening heavier tariffs on Russian oil and vowing quote "big problems" for Kyiv if it backs away from its mineral deal with Washington.

Park Hyo-been has more.

Amid the stalled progress on the Ukraine-Russia ceasefire, U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed strong dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In an NBC interview on Sunday, Trump revealed that he was "very angry" after Putin criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's credibility.

Trump also said that if Russia is found responsible for prolonging the conflict, he would impose "secondary tariffs" on Russian oil, ranging from 25 to 50 percent.

He warned that countries purchasing Russian crude oil could face tariffs, signaling economic pressure as potential leverage in the ongoing conflict.

Trump also had a message for Zelenskyy.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump criticized the Ukrainian leader for trying to back out of a rare earth metals agreement.

"And I think Zelenskyy, by the way, I see he's trying to back out of the rare earth deal, and if he does that, he's got some problems. Big, big problems. We made a deal on rare earth, and now he's saying, 'Well, you know, I want to renegotiate the deal'."

With U.S.-Ukraine negotiations now stalling, Russia has begun rare metals talks with Washington.

On Monday, Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev confirmed that discussions were underway, with several companies already expressing an interest.

Last month, Putin underscored Russia's vast reserves, looking to position Moscow as a more stable supplier than Ukraine.

As diplomatic efforts stall, the potential economic pressure from tariffs may become a crucial turning point in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Park Hyo-been, Arirang News.