Trump’s Tough Talk on Russia: A Dangerous Path to Nuclear Brinkmanship, By Chris Knight (Florida)
President Donald Trump's recent ultimatum to Russia, agree to a peace deal with Ukraine in 50 days or face crippling 100% tariffs on Russian goods and their buyers, sounds like a bold move to end the war in Ukraine. Announced on July 14, 2025, alongside plans to flood Ukraine with "top-of-the-line" weapons like Patriot missiles, Trump's strategy seems designed to bully Russia into submission. But far from bending Moscow, this heavy-handed approach is more likely to escalate tensions, pushing the world closer to the unthinkable: nuclear war. For everyday people, this isn't just geopolitics, it's a reckless gamble with global consequences.
Trump's announcement, made alongside NATO chief Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, marks a sharp shift from his earlier promises to end the Ukraine war in "24 hours" through diplomacy. Frustrated by Russian President Vladimir Putin's "empty promises" and continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, Trump now threatens secondary sanctions on countries like China and India that buy Russian oil, alongside a massive arms pipeline to Ukraine. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky cheered the move on X, thanking Trump and NATO for boosting air defences and weapons supplies. But Russia's response tells a different story: they're not backing down.
Russian officials, like Leonid Slutsky of the Liberal Democratic Party, dismissed Trump's threats, arguing he's targeting the wrong country. Slutsky told TASS that Trump should pressure Ukraine's "Zelensky regime" instead, claiming Moscow's peace proposals are already on the table, waiting for Kyiv to agree to talks in Istanbul. Former President Dmitry Medvedev called the ultimatum "theatrical," while diplomat Sergei Ryabkov labelled it "unacceptable." Russian state media and pro-Kremlin voices, like Sergei Markov, scoffed at the tariffs as a "bluff," noting Russia's economy has weathered worse sanctions since the war began in 2022. The Moscow Stock Exchange even rose after Trump's statement, signalling investors' lack of fear.
This defiance isn't surprising. Russia's economy relies heavily on oil exports to non-Western nations, earning billions despite existing sanctions. Trump's proposed tariffs, targeting countries like India and China, are unlikely to cripple Moscow, as these nations have little trade exposure to the U.S. compared to their energy needs. Instead, such threats risk alienating major global players, potentially driving them closer to Russia in a counter-alliance. Far from forcing Putin to negotiate, Trump's rhetoric is hardening Russia's resolve, with figures like propagandist Vladimir Solovyov even warning of nuclear retaliation via Russia's Poseidon submarine drone.
Trump's escalation, arming Ukraine with advanced weapons and threatening economic warfare, raises the stakes in an already volatile conflict. Russia's ongoing bombardment of Ukrainian cities, reported as intensifying in July 2025, shows no sign of stopping. Ukrainian military sources note Russian advances in Donetsk and Sumy, with Moscow's summer offensive gaining ground. Trump's promise of Patriot missiles and potential long-range weapons, like Tomahawks, could embolden Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory, as the Financial Times reported Trump privately urged Zelensky to do. This tit-for-tat escalation brings the world closer to a direct U.S.-Russia confrontation.
The nuclear risk is real. Russia's leadership, including Medvedev, has repeatedly invoked nuclear threats when faced with Western pressure. A 2024 CNN report revealed Trump once boasted to donors about threatening to "bomb the sh*t out of Moscow" if Russia invaded Ukraine, a claim the White House disputed but which underscores his provocative style. Russian state media has since hyped fears of U.S. missile strikes on Moscow, with Solovyov claiming Trump has "gone crazy" and is being "Bidenised." While these may be propaganda, they reflect Russia's readiness to escalate rhetoric, and potentially actions, if cornered. With both sides arming up and no clear off-ramp, the risk of miscalculation grows, where a single strike could trigger a catastrophic response.
Russia's dismissal of Trump's threats isn't just bravado. Since 2022, Moscow has adapted to Western sanctions, redirecting oil exports to Asia and building economic resilience. The Kremlin sees the war as existential, believing it has the battlefield advantage, as Ukrainian losses mount (over 265,000 killed or wounded in 2025 alone, per Russian claims). Trump's 50-day deadline ignores this reality; Russia isn't about to surrender territory or influence under economic threats that haven't worked before. As Senator Konstantin Kosachev noted, "a lot can change in 50 days," signalling Moscow's intent to wait out Trump's bluster.
Moreover, Trump's track record undermines his credibility. He's threatened sanctions four times since January 2025 without following through, as MSNBC reported. His flip-flopping, praising Putin as "savvy" in 2022, then calling him "crazy" in 2025, suggests posturing rather than strategy. Russian elites, per the Washington Post, see this as a sign Putin may have "overplayed his hand," but they also doubt Trump's resolve. This perception of weakness makes it less likely Russia will bow to pressure, instead doubling down on its military campaign.
For ordinary people, the consequences of this brinkmanship are terrifying. Escalating arms to Ukraine risks prolonging a war that's already killed thousands and displaced millions. Secondary sanctions could disrupt global energy markets, spiking prices for gas and goods, hitting everyday consumers hardest. Worse, the nuclear sabre-rattling, amplified by Russian media and figures like Medvedev, creates a climate of fear, where one misstep could unleash disaster.
Trump's approach is a betrayal of common sense. Instead of de-escalating through diplomacy, he's pouring fuel on a fire that could engulf the world. His tariffs and weapons pledges empower NATO and Ukraine's war machine while doing little to change Russia's calculus. The real victims are civilians, Ukrainian, Russian, and potentially global, who face the fallout of a conflict spiralling toward catastrophe.
This isn't about taking Russia's side; it's about recognizing that bullying a nuclear power won't bring peace. Trump should:
Prioritise Diplomacy: Drop the ultimatums and engage Russia directly, as Slutsky suggested, using existing proposals like those in Istanbul.
Avoid Escalation: Halt plans for long-range weapons that could provoke Russian retaliation.
Protect Global Stability: Rethink sanctions that hurt allies like India and China, risking economic chaos without weakening Russia.
In conclusion, Trump's tough talk, 100% tariffs, more weapons for Ukraine, won't bend Russia. Instead, it's pushing Moscow into a corner, where defiance and nuclear threats are its only response. For everyday people, this isn't just a distant war; it's a step closer to a nuclear nightmare. The world needs leaders who de-escalate, not inflame, and Trump's bluster is doing the opposite. If he keeps this up, the only thing he'll achieve is moving us all closer to a war no one can win.
https://rmx.news/article/russian-politician-says-trump-is-threatening-the-wrong-country/
"Russian officials say that President Donald Trump should not be threatening Russia but instead turn its attention to Ukraine, which Moscow blames for prolonging the war.
"If Trump really wants to make progress in resolving the situation in Ukraine, he should be warning the Zelensky regime rather than threatening Russia with secondary sanctions," said Leonid Slutsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR) and chairman of the international committee of the Russian parliament, during an interview with TASS news agency.
He also recalled that the Russian side has repeatedly made it clear that it is open to ending the conflict.
"All of Moscow's proposals are on the table. Now, we are waiting for Ukraine to accept the date for the third round of talks in Istanbul," he said.
President Trump has announced he is fed up with Putin's empty promises, saying the United States will be imposing 100 percent tariffs on countries that continue to purchase Russian goods if a peace agreement is not reached within 50 days.
The U.S. will also be sending Ukraine more "top-of-the-line" weapons, to be reimbursed by NATO, including Patriot air defense missiles.
Trump's announcement came after his meeting with NATO head Mark Rutte, which was followed by a press conference in the Oval Office.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his appreciation on X, saying he had also spoken with Rutte, who updated him on his meeting with Trump and how the Allies would continue their support for Ukraine.
"We appreciate the readiness to provide additional Patriots, and the U.S., Germany, and Norway are already working together on this. There will also be deliveries of other weapons to protect lives of our people and repel Russian assaults," he posted, also directly thanking Rutte.
In another post, Zelensky directly thanked Trump and the U.S., noting that "the Alliance countries are working to increase defense spending" and assuring that Ukraine and NATO countries "are ready to work as productively as possible to achieve peace."
"We agreed to catch up more often by phone and coordinate our steps in the future as well. Thank you, Mr. President! Thank you, America!" he ended his post."
https://michaeltsnyder.substack.com/p/threatening-the-russians-with-an
Threatening The Russians With An Ultimatum Will Backfire Severely And Will Set The Stage For Nuclear War
So is this how it all ends? I don't even know how to describe the emotions that I am feeling right now. There was so much hope a few months ago that there would be peace, but both sides appear completely uninterested in making substantial compromises at this point. Instead, both sides are poised to dramatically escalate the war. If we continue going down this path, it isn't going to end well. For decades, our leaders have been conducting war game scenarios in which a conflict in Ukraine leads to a nuclear war. Now a conflict in Ukraine could lead to a nuclear war for real. I feel like I am watching a slow-motion train wreck happen without any way to stop it. It really is quite a sickening feeling.
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We have a very limited window of opportunity to make peace with the Russians, and we are totally blowing it.
In February, I specifically warned that President Trump must not resort to threatening the Russians over the war in Ukraine because it would backfire severely.
When I woke up today, I learned that is exactly what Trump has decided to do.
Trump has issued a very ominous ultimatum. If Russia does not end the war in Ukraine within 50 days, the U.S. will impose "very severe tariffs" on all nations that do business with Russia. In addition, Trump has approved a massive new weapons package for Ukraine…
Trump announced July 14 that the United States is sending weapons to NATO, which plans to transfer the equipment to Ukraine, and also threatened steep tariffs aimed at impacting Russia's ability to finance the war.
Trump said that the United States would put secondary tariffs on countries that do business with Russia if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days.
"We're going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don't have a deal in 50 days," Trump said.
The deadline that Trump has set falls in September, which I found to be very interesting.
If Russia does not end the war in Ukraine by the deadline, and that is very unlikely to happen, Trump says that all countries that do business with Russia will be hit with 100 percent tariffs…
"We're going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don't have a deal within 50 days. It's very simple," Mr. Trump said in the Oval Office, alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. "And they'll be at 100%."
"We are very unhappy, I am, with Russia," the president explained.
China does a tremendous amount of business with Russia.
Are we going to hit the Chinese with 100 percent tariffs?
That would not be good for our economy at all.
Much more importantly, the enormous new weapons package that Trump is sending to Ukraine will significantly escalate the conflict.
It is being reported that the U.S. will sell approximately 10 billion dollars in weapons to European countries, and those European countries will turn around and distribute those weapons to Ukraine.
According to NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, nations all over Europe are very eager to participate in the "first wave" of this program…
Rutte, who said the decision was built on the "tremendous success" of last month's NATO summit when nearly every nation in the alliance agreed to increase their defense spending to reach 5% of their nation's GDP, called the move "logical."
"This is again European nations standing up," Rutte added. "I've been in contact with many countries, I can tell you at this moment Germany, massively, but also Finland and Denmark and Sweden and Norway, we have the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Canada – they all want to be part of this.
"And this is only the first wave. There will be more," Rutte confirmed. "So what we will do is work through the NATO systems to make sure that we know what Ukrainians need."
This isn't going to end the war.
It is just going to make it even worse.
Apparently this new aid for Ukraine will likely include long-range missiles that will be capable of striking targets deep inside Russian territory…
Now, two sources tell Axios that it's likely a new weapons package will include long-range missiles capable of attacking deep inside Russia to include Moscow. They noted that a final decision hadn't been made. "Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive," warmongering South Carolina Sen. Lindsey told Axios.
At the end of 2024, the Biden administration brought us right to the brink of nuclear war by allowing the Ukrainians to fire long-range missiles provided by the United States deep into Russian territory.
Now we are going to do it again?
Are we mad?
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy certainly sounds like he can't wait to get his hands on the long-range missiles that are coming…
Ukrainian forces will continue targeting Russian troops and doing everything possible to bring the war onto Russian territory, including preparing new long-range strikes, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
"Our units will continue to destroy the enemy and do everything possible to bring the war onto Russian territory. We are preparing our new long-range strikes," Zelenskyy said.
According to a decorated British Army commander named Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, the plan is for Ukraine to receive long-range missiles that "can strike Moscow"…
Mr de Bretton-Gordon told The Sun: "These weapons can strike Moscow – over 400 miles from the border. That allows the Ukrainians to strike drone factory production and ammunition sites, and others.
"So this will have both psychological as well as physical effects.
"People in Moscow will realise that they potentially could be targeted.
"And when you also add to it the American bombings on Iranian sites that were supposed to be impregnable, it shows that American missile and drone technology rather superior to the Russian air defence system."
Let me ask you a question.
If another country launched long-range missiles at Washington D.C. and New York City, what would we do?
The answer to that question is obvious.
If long-range missiles provided by the United States start falling in Moscow, the Russians will respond very forcefully.
In fact, Hamish de Bretton-Gordon has openly admitted that the Russians have already been strongly considering the use of nuclear weapons…
In a Telegraph op-ed, the former Colonel and expert on weapons of mass destruction stated: "The fact that Putin and his gangsters have threatened nuclear attack continuously since the wider war in Ukraine began suggests they are thinking about it in detail."
The former Colonel expressed concern over the prolonged conflict in Ukraine, stating: "As three days have become three years plus, they may think they can finish off Ukraine quickly with tactical nukes and we would not react."
We are playing with fire.
Meanwhile, the government of the Philippines is quietly coordinating with Taiwan in anticipation of a coming war with China…
Faced with intensifying Chinese encroachment at sea, the Philippines increasingly sees its national security as intertwined with that of Taiwan and is quietly ramping up both formal and informal engagement with the self-governing island, including on security, according to government officials, defense analysts and diplomats here.
This marks a significant departure from Manila's conservative approach toward Taiwan and could pave the way for the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, to play a bigger role if China makes good on its threats to invade Taiwan.
"Any force projection of China within our area is a matter of extreme concern," Philippine Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro said in an interview Thursday.
And we are being told that Israel is preparing for the next time that it will strike Iran…
-In a recent meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump, while preferring a diplomatic solution, did not object to Israel's readiness to launch further strikes.
-This stance comes as Israeli intelligence believes Iran could still recover a significant amount of near-bomb-grade uranium from the damaged Isfahan site.
-The situation has created a high-stakes standoff, with Washington leveraging the threat of future attacks to push Tehran toward a deal, while an unconvinced Israel prepares to act alone if necessary.
In my new book entitled "10 Prophetic Events That Are Coming Next", I specifically warn about war with Russia, war with China, and war in the Middle East.
And I have warned about these wars over and over again in my articles.
But sometimes I feel like I am banging my head into a brick wall because most people don't seem to get it.
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This isn't a game.
Decisions that are being made right now will greatly alter the course of human history, and hundreds of millions of lives are hanging in the balance."
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