NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte speaks as President Donald Trump listens during a meeting in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, July 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP - Evan Vucci)
President Donald Trump warned yesterday that Russia has “exactly 50 days” to accept a cease-fire with Ukraine or face secondary tariffs of about 100 percent on all Russian goods and on countries that continue large-scale trade with Moscow. He delivered the ultimatum during an Oval Office photo-spray with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, moments after unveiling a plan for European allies to buy billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. weapons and pass them to Kyiv. “Trade is a great tool for ending wars,” Trump said, adding that the tariff weapon would be triggered at 12:01 a.m. on September 2nd if a peace framework is not in place.