From the article: The Trump administration proposed on Oct. 15 to fund Ukraine through new tariffs on China, provided that European allies impose similar measures.
“President (Donald) Trump has instructed the ambassador and myself to tell our European allies that we would be in favor of whether you would call it a ‘Russian oil tariff’ on China or a ‘Ukrainian victory tariff’ on China,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told journalists in Washington.
“But our Ukrainian or European allies have to be willing to follow.”
The news comes ahead of a meeting between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Oct. 17, where the two leaders are expected to discuss support for Ukraine amid Russian aggression.
The proposed strategy aligns with Trump’s earlier calls for Europe to increase economic pressure on Moscow as a condition for new U.S. sanctions.
According to Bessent, 85 U.S. senators are ready to give Trump the authority to “put up to 500% tariffs on China for the purchase of Russian oil.”
Washington has already imposed 50% tariffs on India over its Russian energy imports and reportedly urged other G7 members to take similar steps as a way to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to sincere negotiations.
India and China are the leading buyers of Russian oil, helping Moscow fund its all-out war against Ukraine.
Bessent also complained that the European Parliament has ruled out tariffs on China, even though it is European countries that are more directly affected by the Russian threat.
“All I hear from the Europeans is that Putin is coming to Warsaw,” Bessent said. “There are very few things in life I’m sure about, but I’m sure he is not coming to Boston.”
The same day, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called upon NATO partners to ramp up purchases of U.S. arms for Ukraine under the NATO framework. He also warned that Washington and its allies are ready to “impose costs on Russia” unless the war in Ukraine ends.
Pakspul on
Our economics terrorist, you have to buy more and then I’ll do something for you.
TheRealAussieTroll on
Tariffs are… idiotic. Taxing yourself to supposedly punish your opponent?

Boss move by economic amateurs.
Inner-Detail-553 on
Wow. That’s… actually not bad, if lifting the tariff is tied to China stopping its supply of drone parts and military electronics to Russia. As a money-making measure this is kinda dumb, as posturing it’s good (love the name), as a way to exert pressure – very possibly effective.
Embarrassed_Lemon527 on
We do need to wean ourselves off the Chinese cheap teat. This might be one way do do it whilst helping Ukraine.
KevonFire1 on
just our TACO, talking nonsense b/c a camera is pointed at him.
AnonVinky on
No, this IS actual WW3 stuff. Europe should not make enemies to expedite an inevitable Ukrainian victory.
grafknives on
How about no.
We need to defeat Russia. And your great friend Putin.
Joey1849 on
China needs to be called out for its intentional transfer of dual use goods to ruzzian weapons programs. This is good. It is also over due. This should have been done on day one for this administration, not 9 months in. It should also have been done by the previous administration.
Agarwel on
Just empty words. He knows that Slovakia and Hungary wont do anything that would not benefit Russia. So he will always be able to pretend “I would love to help UA” while having (poor) excuse to never do it.
xixipinga on
Its just like biden with abrams tanks, ukraine received something like 400 to 600 tanks from abroad and nobody cares, US gives 30 and it is portrayed in the media like the US is funding the war
SecondaryWombat on
He does know where this money comes from, right? I feel like he doesn’t understand that this isn’t taking money from China.
12 commenti
From the article: The Trump administration proposed on Oct. 15 to fund Ukraine through new tariffs on China, provided that European allies impose similar measures.
“President (Donald) Trump has instructed the ambassador and myself to tell our European allies that we would be in favor of whether you would call it a ‘Russian oil tariff’ on China or a ‘Ukrainian victory tariff’ on China,” U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told journalists in Washington.
“But our Ukrainian or European allies have to be willing to follow.”
The news comes ahead of a meeting between Trump and President Volodymyr Zelensky in Washington on Oct. 17, where the two leaders are expected to discuss support for Ukraine amid Russian aggression.
The proposed strategy aligns with Trump’s earlier calls for Europe to increase economic pressure on Moscow as a condition for new U.S. sanctions.
According to Bessent, 85 U.S. senators are ready to give Trump the authority to “put up to 500% tariffs on China for the purchase of Russian oil.”
Washington has already imposed 50% tariffs on India over its Russian energy imports and reportedly urged other G7 members to take similar steps as a way to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to sincere negotiations.
India and China are the leading buyers of Russian oil, helping Moscow fund its all-out war against Ukraine.
Bessent also complained that the European Parliament has ruled out tariffs on China, even though it is European countries that are more directly affected by the Russian threat.
“All I hear from the Europeans is that Putin is coming to Warsaw,” Bessent said. “There are very few things in life I’m sure about, but I’m sure he is not coming to Boston.”
The same day, U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called upon NATO partners to ramp up purchases of U.S. arms for Ukraine under the NATO framework. He also warned that Washington and its allies are ready to “impose costs on Russia” unless the war in Ukraine ends.
Our economics terrorist, you have to buy more and then I’ll do something for you.
Tariffs are… idiotic. Taxing yourself to supposedly punish your opponent?

Boss move by economic amateurs.
Wow. That’s… actually not bad, if lifting the tariff is tied to China stopping its supply of drone parts and military electronics to Russia. As a money-making measure this is kinda dumb, as posturing it’s good (love the name), as a way to exert pressure – very possibly effective.
We do need to wean ourselves off the Chinese cheap teat. This might be one way do do it whilst helping Ukraine.
just our TACO, talking nonsense b/c a camera is pointed at him.
No, this IS actual WW3 stuff. Europe should not make enemies to expedite an inevitable Ukrainian victory.
How about no.
We need to defeat Russia. And your great friend Putin.
China needs to be called out for its intentional transfer of dual use goods to ruzzian weapons programs. This is good. It is also over due. This should have been done on day one for this administration, not 9 months in. It should also have been done by the previous administration.
Just empty words. He knows that Slovakia and Hungary wont do anything that would not benefit Russia. So he will always be able to pretend “I would love to help UA” while having (poor) excuse to never do it.
Its just like biden with abrams tanks, ukraine received something like 400 to 600 tanks from abroad and nobody cares, US gives 30 and it is portrayed in the media like the US is funding the war
He does know where this money comes from, right? I feel like he doesn’t understand that this isn’t taking money from China.