President Donald Trump is inching closer to imposing tariffs and sanctions on Russia and its trading partners, reducing his 50-day deadline for Russian President Vladimir Putin to reach a peace deal with Ukraine.
When asked by reporters in Scotland about the prospect of a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, Trump repeated that he is “disappointed” with Putin, complaining that he thought he had the matter “settled numerous times” before his Russian counterpart then “starts launching rockets into some city, like Kiev, and kills a lot of people.”
“I’m going to reduce that 50 days we gave him to a lesser number because I think I already know the answer what’s going to happen,” Trump said on Monday.
Earlier this month, Trump provided Putin with 50 days to broker peace with Ukraine otherwise he would impose tariffs and sanctions on Russia and its trading partners.
“I’m disappointed in President Putin because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn’t seem to get there,” Trump told reporters at the White House at the time. “So, based on that, we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs. If we don’t have a deal in 50 days, it’s very simple, and they’ll be at 100%.”
Speaking with reporters at this hotel and golf course in Turnberry, Scotland, as he stood beside British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Trump was also asked about the prospect of a ceasefire between Israel and Gaza.
Trump disagreed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu‘s dismissal of a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, citing images of children coming from the enclave.
“I’m looking for getting people fed right now,” he said. “That’s the number one position because you have a lot of starving people.”
Trump also welcomed news of a ceasefire between Thailand and Cambodia, announced by Malaysia overnight, after the president encouraged the two countries to negotiate.
“That was going to be a very bad war,” he said. That could’ve gone on for years. Millions of people could’ve been killed. We ended the war — and we’re very happy about it.”
Trump and Starmer are expected to discuss Russia and Ukraine, in addition to the United States-United Kingdom trade deal, announced in May.
Trump told reporters the trade deal was in “great shape,” but previewed that the pair would talk about steel and aluminum tariffs, as well as duties on whiskey and agriculture.
“It’s going to be a lot of jobs here and great for America,” he said. “Our relationship is unparalleled, but it keeps it even closer.”