By: Peace Udugba.
Vladimir Putin appears undeterred by Donald Trump’s warning to implement 100% secondary tariffs on Russia, as friction between the U.S. and Moscow intensifies. The American President is said to be increasingly exasperated by the Kremlin’s persistent unwillingness to engage in serious peace talks regarding the conflict in Ukraine.
The White House incumbent told the BBC he was “disappointed in him”, but was not “yet done” with him. In attempts to pressure the Kremlin tyrant to the negotiating table, Trump has green lit a new weapons package for Kyiv and threatened more hard biting sanctions on Moscow. These would target countries buying Russian oil, a major source of financing for Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Trump has given his Russian counterpart 50 days to stop the war or face the full wrath of the White House. However, sources close to the Kremlin say Putin is unmoved and will not bow to Trump’s demands, in a humiliating setback for the US President.
A Kremlin insider said that the Russian supremo does not believe the Americans have seriously engaged with him on the details for a peace deal in Ukraine. They added that Putin puts the interest of Russia above all else and that he will continue until “he gets what he wants.
Putin has placed a number of conditions for any long lasting peace in Ukraine, which critics argue are unacceptable to Kyiv and would amount to an abject surrender.
These include a legally binding pledge that NATO will not expand eastwards, Ukrainian neutrality and limits on its armed forces, protection for Russian speakers who live there, and acceptance of Russia’s territorial gains.
