Putin's 'fooled a lot of people... he didn't fool me': Trump threatens 100% tariffs on Russia

The souring friendship between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin reached a new nadir on Jul. 14 when Trump threatened a 100 per cent secondary tariff on Russia.

Speaking to the media in Washington D.C., he said the threat will come to fruition if Russia fails to reach a deal to end the Russia-Ukraine war in 50 days, BBC reported.

The harsher penalties will reportedly target Russia's remaining trade partners and cripple its economy.

In turn, Russia would have reduced finances to fund their war efforts in Ukraine.

'Talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening'

BBC said Trump's frustration at the lack of progress at ending the war was apparent during the press conference, held after his meeting with NATO chief Mark Rutte.

He claimed that he had spoken with Putin multiple times on securing a ceasefire deal, calling them "very nice phone calls" that end well.

However, what follows is often Putin immediately going back on his word and conducting airstrikes on Ukraine, Trump said.

"Numerous times, I get home and I say 'First Lady, I just had the most wonderful talk with Vladimir, I think we're finished'" he told the press, adding, "And I turn on the television and she said to me one time, 'Well that's strange because he just bombed a nursing home.'"

Trump said that Putin was a "tough guy" and that he had fooled Trump's predecessors over the years, according to the BBC.

"It's been proven over the years, he fooled a lot of people – Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden," Trump said. "He didn't fool me. At a certain point talk doesn't talk, it's got to be action."

On Jul. 13, Trump similarly said that Putin "talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening."

"After that happens three or four times you say: the talk doesn't mean anything," he added.

An ugly turn

The friendship between both presidents have taken a dramatic turn since Trump took office for his second term.

For years, Trump had publicly held his Russian counterpart in high regard, including calling Putin a "genius" in 2022 as Russia prepared to invade Ukraine.

"Here’s a guy who’s very savvy. I know him very well,” he reportedly once said.

However, the lack of progress to secure a ceasefire deal, as well as Putin's constant failure to make good on his word has culminated in an ugly turn in their friendship.

It has also forced Trump to admit that the war is more difficult to end than he had anticipated, as The New York Times pointed out.

Despite claiming he could end the war in 24 hours during his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump said at the NATO summit on Jun. 25 that "it’s more difficult than people would have any idea."

"Vladimir Putin has been more difficult," he said.

On Jul. 14., he again told the media, "I am disappointed in President Putin."

Arming Ukraine

Following his meeting with Rutte, Trump also announced that the U.S. will send "top-of-the-line" weapons to Ukraine, which will be funded by NATO.

This comes one day after his announcement on Jul. 13 that the U.S. will resume sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine after its previous shipment pause.

"We want to make sure Ukraine can do what it wants to do," Trump said, according to BBC.

He added that Ukraine's European allies, namely Germany and Norway, will first contribute their own Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv, and the U.S. will send replacements following that.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his gratitude towards Trump's support for Ukraine on X, saying "Thank you for the willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace."

"This war continues solely because of Russia, because of Putin’s desire to drag it out", Zelensky wrote.

In a separate post, Zelensky said he also hosted U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg on Jul. 14, discussing Ukraine's air defense and sanctions against Russia.

Two rounds of ceasefire talks between Russia and Ukraine have taken place this year, though no others have been scheduled so far, BBC reported.

Top image via Donald J. Trump/Facebook