US President Donald Trump’s recent comments regarding Russia and its invasion of Ukraine signal a significant shift in his approach to global diplomacy. Despite his often-documented history of aligning with Russia in ways that left many in the West uneasy, Mr Trump’s latest remarks reveal a mounting frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. As he prepares to engage Mr Putin directly, Mr Trump has issued a stark threat: secondary tariffs on Russian oil if Moscow continues to obstruct peace efforts in Ukraine. This isn’t just a diplomatic move ~ it’s an expression of Mr Trump’s growing impatience with what he perceives as a lack of progress towards ending a conflict that has cost thousands of lives and destabilised Europe. The use of tariffs as a bargaining chip is not new for Mr Trump, who famously employed economic pressure as a tool during his first term in office.

This latest threat to impose hefty........

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