The White House has issued a warning that Russia will face steep new tariffs if it does not halt the war in Ukraine within 50 days.
“If there is no ceasefire agreement or peace deal within this timeframe—if Russia refuses to formally accept a ceasefire—then it will face very high customs tariffs and secondary sanctions,” said White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. “Countries that continue to buy oil from Russia will also be sanctioned, which will obviously cause serious damage to the Russian economy.”
Leavitt emphasized that President Donald Trump is committed to ending the war through a diplomatic solution.
“He has insisted on this. The president wants to stop the killing and save lives,” she added.
However, analysts note that U.S.-Russia trade is minimal—less than 1% of total U.S. trade—so the direct impact of tariffs may be limited. The secondary sanctions, however, could carry broader implications for global trade, especially as China has warned that it would strongly support Russia in the event of an economic confrontation.
