Mohan Sinha
19 Jul 2025

MOSCOW, Russia: Brushing aside U.S. President Donald Trump's latest threat to impose steep sanctions on buyers of Russian exports unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal in Ukraine, former President Dmitry Medvedev called Trump's ultimatum a "theatrical" gesture and said it had no impact on Moscow's decisions.

Trump, speaking from the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on July 14, announced a new weapons package for Ukraine and threatened 100 percent tariffs on any country purchasing Russian exports—mainly crude oil—if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days. He also voiced frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him "a tough guy" but stopping short of labeling him "an assassin," a reference to former President Joe Biden's 2021 remark calling Putin "a killer."

"Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin," Medvedev wrote on X (formerly Twitter). "The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn't care."

The Kremlin has not officially responded to Trump's comments but reiterated on July 14 that the U.S. continues to arm Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian state media emphasized battlefield gains and Ukrainian drone attacks that injured 18 people in Russia. Coverage of Trump's remarks on Russian television highlighted delays in the delivery of U.S. Patriot missile systems and concerns within the U.S. about escalating the war.

Russia, which controls nearly one-fifth of Ukraine's territory, has repeatedly said it is open to peace—but only on its terms. Putin insists that a ceasefire can't be considered until a framework for peace is clearly outlined. European leaders and Ukrainian officials have expressed deep skepticism, urging Trump to abandon any attempts to reconcile with the Kremlin.

In the U.S., a White House official said Trump is pushing for 100 percent tariffs on Russian goods and secondary sanctions on countries buying Russian oil unless peace is reached soon. A Senate bill with support from 85 senators would grant Trump authority to impose tariffs up to 500 percent on nations that support Russia economically, but Republican leaders are waiting for Trump's signal to proceed with a vote.

Major buyers of Russian crude—China, India, and Turkey—could be significantly affected by such sanctions, though it remains unclear how they would respond. Russia currently exports around five million barrels of oil per day, making it the world's second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia.

Russian newspaper Kommersant ran a front-page headline invoking Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, signaling disappointment in Trump: "Et tu, Trump – the main peacekeeper of the Ukrainian conflict joined the ‘party of war.'" Despite the rhetoric, Trump told the BBC he still believes a peace deal is achievable and that he is "not done" with Putin.