WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — On Sunday, U.S. President Donald Trump stated he would consider imposing secondary tariffs on buyers of Russian oil if a ceasefire in Ukraine is not reached, according to a report from NBC News. The proposed measures would range between 25% and 50%, targeting countries that continue purchasing oil from Russia.
The announcement came during a phone interview with NBC News, in which Trump expressed strong disapproval of recent comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s leadership. Trump described himself as “very angry” over the remarks.
Since assuming office in January, Trump has maintained a more conciliatory approach to Russia, which has raised concerns among Western allies. However, the latest statements indicate a shift in tone, as efforts to broker an end to the ongoing conflict have made little progress.
“If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia’s fault… I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil,” Trump said. “That would mean, if you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States.”
Trump added that he could implement the tariffs within 30 days if negotiations fail to advance. As of publication, there was no official response from the Russian government.
Trump’s comments followed a meeting and golf outing on Saturday with Finnish President Alexander Stubb in Florida. According to Stubb’s office, the Finnish president proposed setting an April 20 deadline for a Russia-Ukraine ceasefire, marking three months since Trump’s inauguration.
Meanwhile, U.S. officials are reported to have presented Ukraine with a draft critical minerals agreement. The proposal allegedly includes a provision directing Ukraine’s future natural resource revenues toward debt repayment. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated that legal advisors are reviewing the draft.
Trump’s proposed tariffs would be an extension of measures enacted in his first months in office, which have included duties on steel, aluminum, and automobiles. Additional tariffs targeting countries with significant trade surpluses are expected to be announced later this week.
William Reinsch, a former Commerce Department official and trade policy expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, questioned the logistical feasibility of enforcing such secondary tariffs. Specifically, he raised concerns about how the U.S. would trace oil supply chains to determine which countries are purchasing Russian crude.
Last week, the Trump administration introduced a 25% secondary tariff on U.S. imports from nations that buy oil or gas from Venezuela. Sunday’s statements suggest similar action may be taken against countries that import Russian oil, with India and China among the most likely to be affected.
According to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, the United States has not imported Russian crude oil since April 2022. Prior to that, imports varied significantly over the years, peaking at over 98 million barrels in 2010.
As of 2024, India has become the largest importer of Russian seaborne crude oil, accounting for approximately 35% of its total oil imports.
Trump also indicated he may introduce secondary sanctions on buyers of Iranian oil if Iran does not agree to halt its nuclear weapons development program.
