Trump Says He's 'Very Angry' with Putin Over Ukraine

US President Donald Trump expressed strong anger toward Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday, criticizing his remarks about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s leadership. Speaking with NBC's Kristen Welker, Trump called Putin’s comments about Zelensky’s credibility "very angry" and "pissed off," signaling a shift in tone as Washington seeks to end the ongoing war in Ukraine.

In an early-morning phone call with Welker, Trump said, “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... I am going to put secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia." Trump also expressed frustration over Putin’s suggestion that Zelensky be removed as part of a peace deal.

While Trump has pushed for a swift resolution to the war, his administration has yet to reach a breakthrough despite attempts at negotiations. Putin rejected a US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire and suggested that Zelensky should be replaced as part of the peace process. Trump, however, emphasized his longstanding relationship with Putin, stating, "I have a very good relationship with him... the anger dissipates quickly if he does the right thing."

Trump’s recent rhetoric may reflect warming ties between Washington and Moscow, with his threats to halt support for Ukraine potentially bolstering Russia’s position on the battlefield. Despite this, Ukraine has accused Russia of stalling peace talks and continuing its offensive, particularly in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, where six strikes on a military hospital wounded personnel and killed civilians.

Russian forces have also captured a village near Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk region, edging closer to the region’s boundary. However, there is little sign of a ceasefire, as both Russia and Ukraine have failed to reach a resolution. Putin has long questioned Zelensky’s legitimacy, given the suspension of elections during ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Zelensky, in a Saturday address, reiterated his call for global pressure on Russia. "For too long now, America's proposal for an unconditional ceasefire has been on the table without an adequate response from Russia," he said, calling for stronger sanctions on the Kremlin.

Trump also proposed secondary tariffs on Russian oil, threatening that any country buying oil from Russia could face a 25-50% tariff on all oil transactions in the United States. He suggested that this move could target countries like China and India, but provided few specifics on the plan.

UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo cautioned that more details are needed to understand the full scope of Trump's proposed tariffs.