President Donald Trump's favorite negotiating tactic may not be useful in ending the war in Ukraine, according to a new report from CBS News.
On Monday, Trump threatened to impose 100% tariffs on Russia if the country did not end the war in the next 50 days. The threat prompted a stern response from Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov, who claimed Trump's "demands, especially ultimatums, are unacceptable to us."
"We need to focus on political and diplomatic work. The President of the Russian Federation has repeatedly said that we are ready to negotiate and the diplomatic path is preferable for us," Ryabkov said, according to the report. "If we cannot achieve our goals through diplomacy, then the SVO (war in Ukraine) will continue… This is an unshakable position. We would like Washington and NATO as a whole to take it with the utmost seriousness."
Russia's statements about Trump's tariffs speak to the growing divide between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump positioned himself as the "negotiator in chief" while on the campaign trail. He also said he could end the war in Ukraine, which has raged for more than three years, within 24 hours of entering the White House.
Since taking office, Trump has accused Putin of "tapping" him to extend the war. This week, he made his disdain for Putin clear during a press conference in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
"I want to get the war settled," Trump said at the press conference.
