WASHINGTON D.C, USA – U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, marking a sharp shift in tone as Washington continues to grapple with the ongoing war in Ukraine.
In an early-morning conversation with NBC’s Kristen Welker, Trump revealed his anger over Putin’s recent comments questioning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership and calling for a change in leadership in Ukraine.
Trump, who has previously expressed his doubts about Zelensky’s leadership, was particularly irked by Putin’s suggestion that Ukraine needed new leadership as part of peace negotiations.
“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 all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump told Welker.
The President went on to describe his emotions as “very angry, pissed off” regarding Putin’s stance.
Despite this, Trump acknowledged that he maintains a “very good relationship” with the Russian leader, noting that his anger “dissipates quickly” if Putin takes the “right action.”
Trump’s administration has made repeated attempts to broker a peace deal to end the more-than-three-year conflict, but efforts have faltered, with Putin rejecting a U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
Russia has also intensified its offensive, particularly targeting the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, with six strikes occurring overnight, resulting in casualties. Russian forces have made advancements, capturing a village just seven kilometers from Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region.
Trump’s latest comments come as the U.S. has yet to secure a breakthrough in negotiations with both sides of the war, leaving Moscow increasingly emboldened by a more lenient stance from Washington.
In contrast, Ukraine has criticized Russia for stalling peace talks and continuing its military aggression.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has reiterated that the only path to peace involves real pressure on Russia, which has continued to resist a ceasefire despite U.S. proposals.
Trump’s secondary tariff threat, which would impose a 25 to 50 percent tax on Russian oil, aims to put further pressure on Russia’s economy.
“If you buy oil from Russia, you can’t do business in the United States,” Trump said, although he did not elaborate on how the tariffs would be enforced.
