Of Athena Papakosta

United States President Donald Trump says he is “very angry” and “pissed off” with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, just weeks after talks about reaching a truce in Ukraine.

In a telephone interview with the US NBC News network, the US president spoke of his annoyance against Russian president for challenging Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski. Donald Trump – who has also questioned and criticizes his Ukrainian counterpart, even calling a dictator – threatened to impose up to 50% of Russian oil duties in the event that Moscow does not agree on a ceasefire.

“If Russia and I are not able to agree to stop the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think Russia is to blame – which may not be to blame – but if I consider it, then duties will be imposed. Secondary duties. Anyone who buys Russian oil will not be able to do jobs with the United States, “Donald Trump said, signaling for the first time a more aggressive tone against Moscow So far he has agreed on a truce on attacks on energy infrastructure and a truce in the Black Sea.

The sudden change of direction in Trump rhetoric occurs only two 24 hours, after the Russian president, speaking on Russian television, proposed a transitional government under the UN leadership in Ukraine to begin talks on a peacekeeping agreement.

For the US president though “Putin does not walk in the right direction‘ When he challenges the leadership of Zelenski, since, as he said in the interview, “A new leadership would mean that no agreement would come up for a long time”.

Shortly thereafter Donald Trump rushed to emphasize how ‘His anger passes fast’ If his Russian counterpart ‘Do the right’while revealing that The two leaders are expected within the week to chat again.

The secondary duties mentioned by the president of the United States are the last of the US government’s weapons. Last week, the United States imposed a 25% duties on countries buying crude oil or gas from Venezuela – the largest of which is China. At the same time, however, in Russia, sanctions have already been imposed by the US, the United Kingdom, the European Union and other G7 countries.

At the same time, for his part, Volodimir Zelenski with a post on the X platform, former Twitter, stressed that “Russia continues to seek excuses to extend the war and another ».

As he noted “Putin has been playing the same game since 2014”when Russia annexed Crimea and added that this ‘It’s dangerous to everyone’ and how “There should be an appropriate response from the United States, Europe and our partners around the world.”.

So far, the White House has not commented, nor has any more information on the latest statements by the US president, and – as long as the truce talks in Ukraine continue – European leaders are still watching with concern The relationship of Trump – Putin.