Washington: US President Donald Trump has said that he is "pissed off" with Russia's President Vladimir Putin, telling NBC News in a phone interview last week that he could impose additional tariffs on Russian oil if Putin doesn't cooperate in ongoing negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
"I was very angry — pissed off — when Putin started getting into Zelensky's credibility, because that's not going in the right location, you understand?" Trump said in the interview with "Meet the Press" host Kristen Welker, who reported more on the discussion on Sunday, CNN reported.
Trump referred to Putin discussing the need, in his view, for new leadership in Ukraine.
"But new leadership means you're not gonna have a deal for a long time, right?" the US President said.
Trump warned that failure to reach a deal could result in secondary tariffs, CNN reported.
"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 — but if I think it was Russia's fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," he said.
Asked if he would talk to Putin this week if the Russian leader "does the right thing," Trump said, "Yeah."
He also told Welker that Putin is aware he is angry. Trump said 25 per cent tariffs could happen at any moment, adding that he plans to speak with Putin this week. (IANS)
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