Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Europe will soon be “at the feet of the master” after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on key trade partners, including Canada, Mexico, and China. His remarks came amid a significant global market downturn and growing concerns among European allies.
After Trump announced over the weekend that he would impose trade duties on some of the U.S.’s closest allies, Putin expressed confidence that Trump’s second term would help “restore order” in Europe. Speaking to Pavel Zarubin, a journalist on the pro-Kremlin show “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin,” Putin said, “Trump, with his character, will restore order there quite quickly. Soon, you will see—everyone will be at the feet of the master and wagging their tails a bit. Everything will fall into place.” The comments were translated by Google and reported by Russian state news agency RIA Novosti.
Putin did not provide further clarification on how he believed Trump could “restore order,” but his statement suggested that Moscow hoped its relationship with Washington could improve under Trump’s leadership, especially given the tensions building between the U.S. and its allies.
The Kremlin issued a statement on Monday acknowledging the growing “tensions” but emphasized that Russia had no interest in involving itself in the issue. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, “Let those countries that are participating in this process sort it out.”
Trump’s tariff announcement caused a sharp decline in global markets on Monday. The new tariffs include a 25% levy on goods from Mexico and Canada, and a 10% tariff on Chinese imports, which are set to take effect Tuesday. Trump also indicated that additional tariffs on the European Union could follow, although he suggested a potential deal with the U.K., which has a more balanced trade relationship with the U.S.
European Union officials have expressed their intention to retaliate if necessary, with the European Commission asserting that it would “respond firmly” to any new U.S. tariffs. The EU could impose similar tariffs or other countermeasures in response to the U.S. action.
Despite the economic sanctions Russia faces due to its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Moscow stands to gain from the global economic instability caused by the U.S. tariffs, which will likely hurt its trade partners. These tariffs also create disarray among traditional allies of the U.S. who, like President Joe Biden’s administration, have sought to weaken Russia through sanctions.
Russia hopes that Trump’s return to office could shift the U.S.-Russia relationship for the better, given the cordial nature of their past interactions. Both leaders have expressed admiration for each other in the past, and Putin recently mentioned that he hoped to meet with Trump soon to discuss the war in Ukraine and global energy prices.
European leaders, however, are concerned about the possible implications of Trump’s foreign policy, including his stance on U.S. military support for Ukraine. With the war in Ukraine entering its third year, there are growing fears in Europe that Trump might push for a peace deal that could force Ukraine to concede territory to Russia. Additionally, if Trump decides to pull U.S. funding for Ukraine, European nations would be left to shoulder the financial burden, a challenge many are already grappling with.
Putin, in criticizing European leaders, claimed that today’s leaders in Europe lack conviction. He praised past European figures like Charles de Gaulle of France, Jacques Chirac, and Germany’s Gerhard Schröder, claiming they had the courage to speak out and stand by their beliefs. “Today, there are practically no such people,” Putin said.
