NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte issued a warning Monday to countries still trading with Russia, urging them to pressure President Vladimir Putin toward a peace deal in Ukraine—before they face tough secondary tariffs proposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump.
Speaking to Fox News’ Bret Baier, Rutte said, “If you’re in Beijing, Delhi, or Brazil, and you know these tariffs are coming your way, you might want to call Vladimir and say, ‘Hey friend, we’re still buying from you—but you need to get serious about a cease-fire or peace talks.’”
Trump, during a joint appearance with Rutte at the White House, announced plans to impose “severe tariffs” on nations that continue doing business with Russia if Moscow fails to end its war in Ukraine within the next 50 days. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later clarified that Trump was referring to secondary sanctions—penalties targeting foreign entities that conduct business with Russia.
“These measures will directly impact Russia, but they also carry major consequences for its global partners,” Rutte said, praising Trump’s strategy as “smartly designed.”
The Russian economy is already under pressure from existing U.S. sanctions. Rutte noted, “If I were in the Kremlin today, I wouldn’t be happy. This is a clear signal that Trump wants peace and is deeply concerned about the loss of life in Ukraine.”
Trump also promised that NATO allies would provide billions of dollars in weaponry for Ukraine, fully funded by the alliance. Rutte backed the idea, saying, “I think that’s fair,” and emphasized that NATO is well-prepared to deliver military aid in “highly effective” packages to support Kyiv.
Rutte said Trump had informed him of his renewed commitment to Ukraine during a private conversation last week.
