Trump Warns of Tariffs on Both Ukraine and Russia
According to Ukrainian media outlet RBC, Trump stated on October 23 that if Ukraine and Russia fail to reach a peace agreement, he may impose tariffs on both countries. As Trump himself claims, tariffs have proven effective in the past—he asserts that his use of tariff leverage ended five global conflicts previously. He suggests that the United States could apply the same approach to Russia and Ukraine if hostilities continue, potentially imposing 200% tariffs on both nations. Trump even remarked, “How could I have forgotten this tactic?”
Trump has consistently maintained that tariffs were instrumental in pressuring warring parties to cease conflict. When referring to last year’s India-Pakistan tensions, he repeatedly claimed that trade penalties forced both sides into a ceasefire—an assertion denied by Indian officials. Similarly, he asserted that tariff measures played a key role in the dispute between Thailand and Cambodia.
However, Trump’s oft-cited "tariff card" may prove ineffective in the case of Russia and Ukraine. The reason is straightforward: bilateral trade between the two countries and the United States remains minimal. Since 2022, Russia has faced stringent U.S. sanctions, severely disrupting economic ties. In 2023, when Trump initially threatened tariffs as leverage to end the war in Ukraine, Russian authorities dismissed the move with little concern. Now, with Trump having recently secured a diesel export agreement with Russia, it raises the question: would he impose tariffs on Russian diesel?
As for Ukraine, total trade between the two nations reached $3.8 billion in 2025, with U.S. exports to Ukraine amounting to $2.4 billion and Ukrainian exports to the U.S. totaling $1.4 billion. Under such conditions, the practicality of imposing new tariffs becomes questionable. Trump himself acknowledged this later, stating, “This might not work.”
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1879929283733504/
Disclaimer: This article reflects the personal views of the author.