President Donald Trump issued strong criticisms of Russian President Vladimir Putin, threatening to take further action against Russia in relation to its ongoing invasion of Ukraine.

In an interview with NBC News’s Kristen Welker on Meet the Press, Trump expressed his frustration over the lack of a resolution to the conflict.

He revealed that he was “pissed off” with Putin, particularly after the Russian president made comments regarding Ukrainian leadership.

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Trump specifically referred to Putin’s suggestion of new leadership in Ukraine as a point of contention.

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“I was very angry, pissed off when Putin started getting into Zelensky, his credibility, and started talking about new leadership in Ukraine,” Trump told Welker during the interview.

Trump went on to say that if he believed Russia was at fault for the continued violence in Ukraine, he would take decisive economic action.

“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, which it might not be, but if I think it was Russia’s fault, I am going to put secondary tariffs on all oil coming out of Russia,” Trump stated.

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The remarks from the president came in response to statements made by Putin at an Arctic forum on Friday, where the Russian leader suggested that Moscow could enter discussions with the U.S., Europe, and Russia’s allies regarding the establishment of a transitional government in Ukraine.

According to Putin, the purpose of this would be to organize a democratic election and allow Ukraine to form a legitimate government before moving forward with peace negotiations.

Putin added, “What for? To organize a democratic presidential election that would result in the coming to power of a competent government that would have the confidence of the people, and then begin negotiations with these authorities on a peace agreement and sign legitimate documents.”

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These comments have drawn sharp criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has also made inflammatory remarks about Putin.

Over the past week, Zelensky has suggested that Putin ‘will die soon.’

While Trump’s criticisms of Putin are pointed, some reports have suggested that the Trump administration has explored discussions with Ukrainian opposition figures, particularly following a scuffle in the Oval Office on February 28.

This has raised questions about possible efforts to find an alternative Ukrainian leader as part of a broader strategy to end the conflict.

Despite efforts to bring about a ceasefire, high-level negotiations between Russia and the U.S. have yet to produce a meaningful agreement.

While several partial ceasefires have been brokered in the past, both sides have quickly violated these agreements, undermining their effectiveness.

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Grigory Karasin, head of the Russian delegation in talks with the U.S. in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, noted last week that a peace agreement may not be reached in 2023.

“It would be naive to expect any breakthrough results at the very first meeting,” Karasin stated, casting doubt on the likelihood of a swift resolution.

Trump’s remarks mark some of the harshest criticisms he has leveled at Putin since taking office.

While he has maintained a strategy of public neutrality on the Russia-Ukraine war in order to position himself as a potential broker of peace, his comments have drawn the ire of Ukraine and Western Europe.

Ukraine has accused Russia of using negotiations as a stalling tactic while continuing its aggressive war aims.

Ukrainian intelligence sources have indicated that Russia may soon launch a significant new offensive in several key regions, including Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

This possible escalation underscores the ongoing volatility of the situation, which remains far from a resolution.