MOSCOW SLAMS TRUMP’S UKRAINE SUPPORT, CALLS TARIFF WARNING TO RUSSIA A “THEATRICAL ULTIMATUM”
The Kremlin has strongly condemned former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent statements supporting Ukraine and threatening new tariffs on Russian exports, calling them a “theatrical ultimatum” and accusing Trump of using inflammatory rhetoric for political gain.
In a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, officials blasted Trump’s remarks, which were made during a campaign rally in Ohio, where he pledged to increase support for Ukraine if re-elected and impose “devastating economic penalties” on Russia unless it withdraws troops from Ukrainian territory. Trump also floated the idea of placing steep tariffs on Russian energy, steel, and agricultural products, branding the Kremlin’s military campaign “a disgraceful act of aggression.”
“The former American president is clearly seeking to revive Cold War-style confrontation in order to appeal to a domestic audience,” Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. “This is not diplomacy — it is theater, laced with arrogance and a deep misunderstanding of the realities on the ground.”
Moscow’s harsh reaction underscores growing irritation with Trump’s evolving position on the war. While Trump was once accused of being overly deferential to Russian President Vladimir Putin, his recent shift toward more hawkish rhetoric has surprised many in both Washington and Moscow. Political analysts suggest that Trump is trying to reshape his foreign policy image ahead of the 2024 U.S. presidential election, attempting to show strength while distancing himself from previous allegations of softness on Russia.
Trump’s tariff threat, in particular, has rattled Russian economic officials. A spokesperson for Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development warned that any such sanctions would “further deteriorate already hostile relations” between the two countries and could provoke “reciprocal actions affecting American business interests in Eurasia.” Russia has been under heavy sanctions from the U.S. and the EU since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, but tariffs on key exports like oil, grain, and aluminum would mark a new escalation.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has welcomed Trump’s remarks, with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office calling them “a positive signal of bipartisan American commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty.” However, European leaders are taking a more cautious stance, concerned that Trump’s return to office could bring unpredictable shifts in U.S. foreign policy. During his first term, Trump frequently criticized NATO allies and questioned U.S. aid to Ukraine, raising doubts about long-term American support.
Russian state media has portrayed Trump’s statements as opportunistic and unserious. Several commentators described his proposals as “impossible to implement” and part of an effort to outmaneuver President Joe Biden politically. “He’s playing both sides — praising Putin one day and threatening him the next,” one anchor on Russia 24 said. “This is election posturing, not policy.”
Despite the war of words, the situation on the ground in Ukraine remains dire. Russian forces continue to push in eastern regions while Kyiv awaits additional Western military aid. In that context, Trump’s comments — and the backlash they sparked in Moscow — highlight how the conflict remains a central issue not just in Europe, but in American politics as well.