U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that Russia cannot delay ceasefire talks in Ukraine indefinitely, stating that Moscow now faces a "psychological deadline" to reach an agreement.
“It’s a psychological deadline. If I think they’re dragging their feet, I’m not going to be happy about it,” Trump told reporters from The Hill aboard Air Force One.
Despite his warning, Trump expressed confidence that Russian President Vladimir Putin still “wants to make a deal” on Ukraine.
However, Trump also voiced disappointment over Putin’s recent remarks discrediting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, stating that both leaders need to work together to end the war.
“I’ve been disappointed by some of the things he’s said in the last day or two about Zelensky because he thinks he’s untrustworthy. He has to make a deal with him—whether you like him or not,” Trump said.
Just a day earlier, Trump said he was “very angry” and “furious” after Putin proposed the introduction of external governance in Ukraine to facilitate presidential elections.
Even so, Trump reminded reporters that he has a “very good relationship” with Putin, and that “anger quickly dissipates” when the Russian leader “does the right thing.”
Tariff Warning If Ceasefire Fails
Trump also warned that if Russia fails to reach a ceasefire, the U.S. will impose secondary tariffs of 25–50% on all Russian oil.
“That means if you buy oil from Russia, you won’t be able to do business in the United States,” Trump added.
These secondary tariffs would not only apply to direct imports, but also to third parties purchasing Russian oil, effectively targeting global buyers as part of increased pressure on Moscow.
Putin’s Proposal for External Governance
On March 27, President Putin proposed a temporary external governance structure in Ukraine under the auspices of the UN and Western countries. He claimed this would allow for the formation of a “viable government that enjoys the people's trust” and could sign a peace treaty.
Putin argued that since presidential elections were not held in Ukraine last year, Zelensky is no longer a legitimate head of state, and that the entire Ukrainian government lacks legal authority.
He further claimed that in the absence of legitimate leadership, “neo-Nazi formations” like Azov have begun to take control in Ukraine. However, Putin clarified that external governance is just “one of the options” under consideration to resolve the ongoing conflict.
In response, a U.S. National Security Council spokesperson stated that Ukraine's governance is defined by its Constitution and its people, firmly rejecting the idea of foreign-imposed leadership.
