Trump threatens to impose secondary customs duties on all imports of Russian oil

US President Donald Trump said on Sunday that he will impose secondary customs duties ranging from 25 percent on all Russian oil imports if he felt that Moscow is hindering his efforts to end the war in Ukraine.

Trump added in a telephone interview with NBC News that the application of this may be within one month if there is no ceasefire.

He said he felt very angry and “resentment” when Russian President Vladimir Putin criticized the credibility of his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimir Zellinski.

He added that he intends to speak to Putin in the coming days.

During his presidential campaign last year, Trump has repeatedly pledged to end what he described as the “ridiculous” war in Ukraine, and he focuses heavily on this issue since he took office on January 20. Trump has previously called for new elections in Ukraine, and Zelinski described the dictator.

On Friday, Putin alluded to the possibility of Ukraine under a temporary management to allow new elections to be held and the signing of major agreements, which may actually overthrow Zelinski..

“If Russia and I could not reach an agreement to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I believe that Russia is the official … I will impose secondary customs duties on oil, on all oil imports coming from Russia,” Trump said.

“This means that if you buy oil from Russia, you will not be able to do business in the United States … there will be 25 percent customs duties on all oil imports, and fees ranging between 25 and 50 points on all oil imports.”

He said that the customs duties on Russian oil will be imposed within one month if there is no ceasefire agreement.

Trump indicated that Putin knows that he is angry at him, but he added that he “has a very good relationship” and that “anger is dissipated quickly … if (Putin) does the right thing.”