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  • 7/18/2025
During a White House press briefing on Thursday, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked about President Trump threatening new tariffs on Russia if it fails to end its invasion of Ukraine within 50 days.
Transcript
00:00Go ahead, John.
00:01Thanks a lot, Caroline.
00:02The President on Monday announced that if there's not compliance with Russia within 50 days,
00:08there would be increased tariffs.
00:11Can you explain how that works?
00:12First of all, what happens if Russia doesn't end its war with Ukraine in 50 days?
00:19Well, in 50 days, as the President clearly laid out,
00:22if there is not a ceasefire agreement or a peace deal within that time frame,
00:27if Russia refuses to legitimately agree to a ceasefire,
00:31then they will face very steep tariffs, and they will also face secondary sanctions.
00:36So countries that are purchasing oil from Russia will be sanctioned as well,
00:42and, of course, that will do deep damage to Russia's economy.
00:45And I would just add that the President wants this war to end with a diplomatic solution.
00:52He's been pushing for it.
00:53But this administration has spent many hours and a lot of time trying to solve this war very far away.
01:00But the President wants to stop the killing, and he wants to save lives.
01:04Reagan, go ahead.
01:05As far as the first part of what you were saying, Caroline, the first part,
01:07I have two questions for you.
01:08It's just about, if I may, it's just about the tariffs, the first part.
01:11I get the secondary tariffs.
01:13But there was only $3 billion worth of trade between the U.S. and Russia in 2024.
01:19It's expected to be far less this particular year.
01:23On April 2nd, both you and the Treasury Secretary said it's not necessary to apply any tariffs on Russia.
01:30You said that because of the lack of trade, it precludes, that was the word you used, any need for tariffs.
01:37Why now, and why do you think that that would make them cave and come to some sort of peace agreement as it relates to Ukraine?
01:44$3 billion is still a lot of money, John, and it's not just tariffs.
01:47It's the secondary sanctions as well that will be implemented in 50 days.
01:51Reagan.

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