US tariff risk leaves Russia much less rattled than relieved

[ad_1] Steve Rosenberg BBC Russia Editor

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/8a50/live/e0525360-60ee-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="Getty Images Russian President Vladimir Putin smiles duting a meetng, while visiting a military base of nuclear submarines, March 26, 2025, in Murmansk, Russia" class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Getty Photos Trump has threatened additional sanctions except Russia strikes a deal to finish the Ukraine struggle inside 50 days

Within the Oval Workplace on Monday, Donald Trump was speaking robust, asserting new US arms shipments to Ukraine paid for by European governments, and threatening new tariffs which, if imposed, would hit Russia's struggle chest.

However, again in Moscow, how did the inventory alternate react? It rose 2.7%.

That is as a result of Russia had been bracing for even more durable sanctions from President Trump.

"Russia and America are shifting in the direction of a brand new spherical of confrontation over Ukraine," Monday's version of the tabloid Moskovsky Komsomolets had warned.

"Trump's Monday shock won't be nice for our nation."

It wasn't "nice". However Russia will likely be relieved, for instance, that the secondary tariffs in opposition to Russia's buying and selling companions will solely kick in 50 days from now.

That offers Moscow loads of time to provide you with counter proposals and delay the implementation of sanctions even additional.

Nonetheless, Donald Trump's announcement does signify a more durable strategy to Russia.

It additionally displays his frustration with Vladimir Putin's reluctance to signal a peace deal.

On his return to the White Home in January, Donald Trump had made ending Russia's struggle in Ukraine considered one of his international coverage priorities.

For months, Moscow's response was: "Sure, however…"

Sure, Russia mentioned in March, when it welcomed President Trump's proposal for a complete ceasefire. However first, it mentioned Western navy help and intelligence sharing with Kyiv ought to finish, together with Ukrainian navy mobilisation.

Sure, Moscow has been insisting, it desires peace. However the "root causes" of the struggle should be resolved first. The Kremlin views these very otherwise to how Ukraine and the West see them. It argues that the struggle is the results of exterior threats to Russia's safety: from Kyiv, Nato, 'the collective West.'

But, in February 2022, it wasn't Ukraine, Nato or the West that invaded Russia. It was Moscow that launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, triggering the most important land struggle in Europe since World Struggle Two.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/7a6e/live/4bf9e050-60f0-11f0-ae6b-f98c94e089e3.png.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Reuters A Russian contract soldier looks out of a T-72 tank during military drills held at a firing range amid Russia-Ukraine conflict, in the southern Krasnodar region, Russia, December 2, 2024." class="sc-d1200759-0 dvfjxj"/> Reuters Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine greater than three years in the past

For fairly a while, the "Sure, however…" strategy enabled Moscow to keep away from further US sanctions, whereas persevering with to prosecute the struggle. Eager to enhance bilateral relations with Russia and negotiate a peace deal on Ukraine, the Trump administration prioritised carrots to sticks in its conversations with Russian officers.

Critics of the Kremlin warned that with "Sure, however"… Russia was enjoying for time. However President Trump hoped he may discover a means of persuading Vladimir Putin to do a deal.

The Russian president has appeared in no rush to take action. The Kremlin believes it holds the initiative on the battlefield. It insists it desires peace, however on its phrases.

These phrases embrace an finish to Western arms shipments to Ukraine. From Donald Trump's announcement it's clear that isn't going to occur.

President Trump claims that he's "not pleased" with Vladimir Putin.

However disillusionment is a two-way avenue. Russia, too, has been falling out of affection with America's president. On Monday, Moskovsky Komsomolets wrote: