Trump says he's 'pissed off' with Putin, threatens bombing of Iran
US president Donald Trump's tariff regime may hit Australia's economy and budget bottom line. (Pool via AP)
In short:
Donald Trump says he was "pissed off" when Vladimir Putin criticised the leadership of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In comments that were unusually critical of Russia, Mr Trump also threatened the country with secondary tariffs on Russia's oil exports.
What's next?
Mr Trump also warned Iran he would not hesitate to bomb them if the country didn't come to the negotiating table over its nuclear program.
US President Donald Trump says he was "pissed off" by Vladimir Putin after the Russian president criticised the credibility of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's leadership.
In an interview with American news outlet NBC News, Mr Trump warned the Russian leader he would consider secondary tariffs against the country's oil exports if he suspected Moscow was attempting to block his attempts at a ceasefire in Ukraine.
He also warned Iran that he would not hesitate to bomb the Middle East country if it didn't negotiate over its nuclear program.
Mr Trump's critical remarks of the Russian president follows Mr Putin's suggestion on Friday that Ukraine could be placed under a form of temporary administration.
Mr Putin suggested that would allow for new elections and the signature of key accords, which could effectively push out Mr Zelenskyy.
"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 … I am going to put secondary tariffs on oil, on all oil coming out of Russia," Mr Trump said.
"That would be, that if you buy oil from Russia, you can't do business in the United States.
"There will be a 25 per cent tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil."
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday said Ukraine should appoint an interim president to guide it through peace talks. (Kremlin: Aleksey Nikolskyi)
A number of countries, including China, have continued to trade with Russia since the invasion of Ukraine, despite western pressure.
Mr Trump said Mr Putin was aware he was angry with him, but said he had "a very good relationship with him" and "the anger dissipates quickly … if he does the right thing."
He said the tariffs on Russian oil would come within a month without a ceasefire deal.
'There will be bombing' if Iran doesn't negotiate
In the same interview, Mr Trump also threatened Iran with secondary tariffs and potential military action if the country didn't come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear program.
Mr Trump said US and Iranian officials were talking but did not elaborate.
"If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing," Mr Trump told NBC News.
"But there's a chance that if they don't make a deal, that I will do secondary tariffs on them like I did four years ago."
In his first term, Mr Trump withdrew the US from a 2015 deal between Iran and world powers that placed strict limits on Tehran's disputed nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Mr Trump also reimposed sweeping US sanctions.
Since then the Islamic Republic has far surpassed the agreed limits in its escalating program of uranium enrichment.
Tehran has so far rebuffed Trump's warning to make a deal or face military consequences.
Reuters