Moscow, July 17, 2025 — The Kremlin has harshly criticized former U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent ultimatum to end the war in Ukraine, mocking his threat of sweeping sanctions against Russia as nothing more than a “theatrical performance.”
Trump, in a high-profile meeting with NATO’s secretary general earlier this week, warned that Russia would face 100% secondary tariffs if it failed to agree to a cease-fire deal with Ukraine within 50 days. He also pledged to supply Ukraine with billions of dollars in military aid through NATO allies.
Russian officials quickly dismissed the remarks. Former President Dmitry Medvedev, a key Putin ally, took to social media platform X to ridicule Trump’s warning.
“Trump issued a theatrical ultimatum to the Kremlin. The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care,” Medvedev wrote.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov echoed the sentiment, labeling Trump’s ultimatum “unacceptable” and “pointless.”
The proposed secondary sanctions would target countries doing business with Russia, particularly those supporting its energy exports. That includes major oil importers such as China, India, and Turkey, which continue to buy Russian crude despite ongoing Western sanctions.
In response to the warning, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Trump’s remarks are being taken seriously in Moscow, revealing that some of the comments were addressed directly to President Putin. However, Peskov added that such rhetoric only signals a U.S. intent to prolong the conflict.
“The U.S. president’s statements are very serious,” Peskov told reporters. “We need time to analyze what was said in Washington. But these are clearly messages aimed at continuing the war, not ending it.”
Trump’s new stance has shocked many in Russia, especially after his past statements expressing admiration for Putin and casting doubt on Ukraine’s role in the war. The front page of the Russian newspaper Kommersant captured the mood with a headline that read, “Et tu, Trump,” referencing Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar and alluding to a sense of betrayal.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to escalate its military campaign. Overnight, Russian forces launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks across six Ukrainian regions, killing at least two civilians, including a child.
The situation highlights a deepening divide between Moscow and Washington, with both sides trading barbs as the war in Ukraine grinds on.
