US ISSUES WARNING OF “VERY STEEP” TARIFFS ON RUSSIA IF UKRAINE CEASEFIRE NOT REACHED IN 50 DAYS
The United States has issued a stark ultimatum to Russia, warning of “very steep” economic tariffs if Moscow fails to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine within the next 50 days. The statement, delivered by a senior White House official during a press briefing late Thursday, represents a dramatic escalation in Washington’s pressure campaign to end the more than three-year-long war.
According to U.S. National Security Advisor Jenna Walters, the Biden administration—acting in concert with key NATO allies—has prepared a package of punitive trade measures that would target Russia’s energy exports, banking system, and industrial sectors. Walters emphasized that this action would be taken unilaterally by the U.S. if no credible progress is made toward halting Russian military activity by the deadline.
“If the Kremlin believes it can outlast the world’s patience, it is mistaken,” said Walters. “The United States is ready to impose the most severe economic restrictions we’ve ever placed on a G20 nation if Russia refuses to step back.”
This warning follows months of diplomatic deadlock and intensifying battlefield developments in Ukraine, particularly around Kharkiv and the southern Zaporizhzhia region. Russian forces have continued drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian cities, including attacks on civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the U.S. move, calling it “a clear signal of unwavering support” and urging allies to adopt similar measures.
The proposed U.S. sanctions, which would include a full ban on Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) imports and secondary sanctions on companies purchasing Russian oil, are expected to ripple through global markets. Analysts warn that while Russia’s economy would face a significant blow, the measures could also lead to rising global energy prices and pressure on European economies already grappling with inflation.
The Kremlin responded angrily to the ultimatum, calling it a “theatrical ultimatum” and accusing the U.S. of trying to sabotage any chance of diplomatic resolution. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claimed the threat was “deliberately timed to derail backchannel peace efforts” and warned of “countermeasures that will be felt in Washington.”
Despite the rhetoric, some diplomatic sources suggest the 50-day window may be a strategic attempt by Washington to provide space for negotiation. A senior EU official, speaking anonymously, said the timeline “may be used to nudge Russia back to the table, or at least to test Moscow’s intentions.”
Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers from both major parties have voiced support for the tariff threat, framing it as a long-overdue effort to hold Russia accountable. However, some progressive Democrats have urged the administration to balance sanctions with increased humanitarian aid to Ukrainians displaced by the war.
With just under two months until the deadline expires, all eyes now turn to Moscow’s next move. The U.S. has made it clear: absent a ceasefire, Russia will face an unprecedented economic response—one that could reshape the geopolitical landscape in the months ahead