US President Donald Trump said he was “very upset” and “furious” against his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on the Ukrainian file and threatened to impose new taxes on Russian oil, according to an interview with the NBC channel on Sunday, March 30.
“If Russia and I are not able to reach an agreement to put an end to the bloodbath in Ukraine, and I think it was Russia’s fault, I will impose secondary customs duties throughout Russia,” warned Donald Trump, in a major change in Moscow as he wants to put an end to three years of conflict in Ukraine. These additional 25 % customs duties could intervene at “any time”, according to the American president who plans to speak in the coming days in Vladimir Putin.
According to NBC journalist Kristen Welker, the American president called him to share his anger about Vladimir Putin’s comments on the future of Volodymyr Zelensky at the head of Ukraine. “I was very upset, furious” against Putin, said Donald Trump, she said.
The Russian president has indeed mentioned the idea of a “transitional administration” for Ukraine, under the aegis of the United Nations, in order to organize a “democratic” presidential election in this country, then negotiate a peace agreement with the new authorities.
Washington, who wants to obtain a ceasefire at all costs in Ukraine, has made a spectacular rapprochement with Moscow in recent weeks, making Ukrainians and Europeans fear an agreement on their backs. Under American pressure, kyiv had accepted an unconditional cessation of the fighting, for 30 days, rejected since by Moscow. Russia has accepted only a moratorium on energy sites, much more limited but Moscow and kyiv accuse each other of rape it.