Trump said last week that the US would impose 100% duties on goods from Russia and secondary sanctions on countries purchasing Russian oil if a ceasefire agreement between Moscow and Kiev was not "reached within 50 days".
"Washington’s threats about what happens after 50 days are nearly meaningless. Tariffing Russian exports to the US means next to nothing—in 2024 Russian exports were only $3 billion. Threatening secondary sanctions against Russian oil-and-gas importers such as China and India is risible, as market reactions since Mr. Trump’s pronouncement have indicated," Bolton said in an op-ed for the Wall Street Journal.
He noted that after the expiration of the 50-day deadline, Trump would have the opportunity "to find reasons to do nothing against Russia, washing his hands of the whole affair."
Earlier, the Economist reported that international investors did not believe Trump's threats to introduce secondary tariffs against Russia. Reuters reported that the market reaction indicated a lack of confidence in Trump's words, since the introduction of such a measure against Russian energy resources could increase prices in the United States, which would run counter to his campaign promises to reduce inflation in the country.