**Russia Shrugs Off Trump’s Tariff Threat**
In a move that has left many surprised, US President Donald Trump announced on July 14 that he would impose “severe” tariffs on Russia within 50 days if there is no peace deal with Ukraine. However, the reaction from Russian officials and commentators has been largely indifferent – and even relieved.
Dmitry Medvedev, a senior Russian official and former president of Russia, dismissed Trump’s announcement as nothing more than a theatrical ultimatum. “The world shuddered, expecting the consequences. Belligerent Europe was disappointed. Russia didn’t care,” he wrote on X.
Many Russian pundits have echoed Medvedev’s view, questioning whether Trump’s threats would actually result in a peace deal with Ukraine within the 50-day deadline. Instead, they seem to believe that Trump’s announcement is just another example of his hesitation to take drastic action against Russia.
The Moscow Exchange even rose 2.7% after Trump’s announcement, indicating that investors were optimistic about how his actions would affect Russia – and had been expecting far harsher action from the White House.
**A Gradual Shift in US Policy?**
While some Russian commentators have dismissed Trump’s threats as meaningless, others see a gradual shift in US policy towards Ukraine. Trump has increasingly lashed out at Russian President Vladimir Putin for his refusal to negotiate an end to the war in Ukraine.
In recent weeks, Trump has made some of his harshest comments yet about Putin, calling him a “big league” liar and saying that he’s “very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.” However, even this harsh rhetoric hasn’t seemed to change Russia’s stance towards the US.
As Russian columnist Dmitry Drize noted, “It is noticeable that the hardening of the American position is happening gradually. This is what it’s like now, in 50 days it may be different.”
**What Does It All Mean?**
So, what does this all mean for Ukraine and Russia? While Trump’s announcement has been met with indifference in Moscow, it remains to be seen whether his threats will ultimately have any impact on the conflict.
One thing is clear: Russia doesn’t seem too worried about Trump’s tariffs. And as long as he continues to hesitate, it’s unlikely that US policy towards Ukraine will change anytime soon.
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