BREAKING: TRUMP is very angry with Putin
In an NBC News interview, the US president criticised Putin for attacking Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's credibility, and threatened to impose a 50% tariff on countries buying Russian oil if he did not agree to a ceasefire.
Last week, Putin suggested the possibility of a UN-run government in Ukraine to organise new elections and then begin peace talks.
Trump's comments mark a change in tone towards Putin. Over the past six weeks, Trump has publicly harangued Zelensky and demanded numerous concessions from Ukraine's president.
On Sunday, he accused Zelensky of "trying to back out of" a deal to share Ukraine's rare minerals with the US and warned of "big, big problems" head should that be the case.
In turn, Trump has flattered Putin and largely given in to the Russian president's demands.
European leaders had worried that Trump was cosying up to Putin.
But Trump's comments on Sunday appeared to be a departure from that dynamic.
It is the first time the US has seriously threatened Russia with consequences for dragging its feet in ceasefire negotiations, which would seem to put the diplomatic ball back in Moscow's court.
NBC News reported that, in a 10-minute phone interview, Trump said he was very angry and "pissed off" when Putin criticised the credibility of Zelensky's leadership, although the president has himself called Ukraine's leader a dictator and demanded that he hold elections.
"You could say that I was very angry, pissed off, when... Putin started getting into Zelensky's credibility, because that's not going in the right location," Trump said.
"New leadership means you're not gonna have a deal for a long time," he added.
When speaking about Putin, Trump said that the Kremlin knew of his anger, but noted that he had "a very good relationship" with the Russian leader and "the anger dissipates quickly... if he does the right thing".
If Russia does not follow through with a ceasefire, Trump threatened to target its economy further if he thought it was Putin's fault.
"If Russia and I are unable to make a deal on stopping the bloodshed in Ukraine, and if I think it was Russia's fault - which it might not be... I am going to put secondary tariffs... on all oil coming out of Russia," he said.
"There will be a 25% tariff on oil and other products sold in the United States, secondary tariffs," Trump said, noting that the tariffs on Russia would come in a month without a ceasefire deal.
Secondary tariffs are sanctions on countries that do business with another country. They could constitute up to 50% on goods entering the US from countries still buying oil from Russia. The biggest such buyers by a long margin are China and India.
Zelensky wrote on social media following the interview that "Russia continues looking for excuses to drag this war out even further".
He said that "Putin is playing the same game he has since 2014", when Russia unilaterally annexed the Crimean peninsula.
"This is dangerous for everyone - and there should be an appropriate response from the United States, Europe, and all our global partners who seek peace."
Later, Trump said he thought Zelensky was trying to renegotiate the US-Ukraine minerals deal.
"If he does that he's got some problems," he told reporters on board Air Force One.
Zelensky previously said he was ready to sign the agreement.
Trump suggested on Sunday that Zelensky wanted to change the deal to get better security guarantees.
"He wants to be a member of Nato. Well, he was never going to be a member of Nato. He understands that."
Also during the flight, Trump appeared to soften his remarks about Putin.
"I don't think he's going to go back on his word," he told reporters on his flight back to Washington.
"I've known him for a long time. We've always gotten along well."
The US president said he would speak to Putin later in the week.

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