President Donald Trump’s recent announcement of a 50-day ultimatum to Vladimir Putin — impose peace in Ukraine or face sweeping new “secondary tariffs” — is a bold move that breaks from the tired cycle of empty warnings and ineffective sanctions. In hosting NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump made it clear: the era of slow diplomacy and passive economic measures is over. If Russia does not come to the table with a workable peace deal, it will face unprecedented economic retaliation — not only directly, but through punitive measures targeting those who continue to fuel Moscow’s war machine.

For that, President Trump deserves credit. He is rightly frustrated with the Kremlin’s delay tactics and its double-dealing in peace negotiations. He is equally correct to call out nations like China and India, which have allowed Russia to keep its economy afloat by continuing to purchase vast quantities of oil. The concept of secondary tariffs — penalizing third-party nations who enable aggression — is an aggressive and creative tool that could reshape how the U.S. exercises economic power.

And yet, while the warning is laudable in its clarity and intent, it faces towering obstacles. The reality is that Russia has, over the past decade, prepared itself for precisely this kind of economic pressure. Since the 2014 annexation of Crimea, and especially after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Putin has hardened his economy against Western sanctions — diversifying trade routes, deepening ties with Beijing, and building financial systems designed to function outside U.S. control. Painful as America’s sanctions have been, they have not reversed Russia’s strategic objectives in Ukraine.

What’s more, Putin’s motivations go far beyond economic gain. He sees Ukraine not as a bargaining chip but as a centerpiece in his vision of a restored Russian empire. His calculus is geopolitical and existential, not financial. Economic pain alone is unlikely to shift his hand unless it is accompanied by military losses, internal instability, or international isolation, which are currently guaranteed by this tariff strategy.

Even the secondary tariffs themselves — while potentially effective — are fraught with diplomatic peril. China and India have already demonstrated they are not eager to bow to Western demands. Both view Russia as a strategic partner and a counterweight to American influence. If pushed too hard, they may retaliate with their own economic penalties, fracturing already strained relationships with Washington and further weakening global unity against Moscow’s aggression.

Furthermore, the 50-day deadline gives Putin significant room to maneuver. It allows time for battlefield escalations, diplomatic foot-dragging, or quiet workarounds with sympathetic regimes. While deadlines create urgency, they also risk being perceived as hollow if not followed by swift, enforceable action.

That said, Trump’s broader strategy holds promise — particularly his push to have European allies foot the bill for Ukraine’s continued defense. His announcement that the U.S. will manufacture and deliver weapons while European nations pay for them signals a long-overdue realignment of burden-sharing within NATO. If implemented effectively, this approach can ensure Ukraine remains armed without draining U.S. stockpiles or taxpayer dollars — something American voters increasingly demand.

The effort to supply additional Patriot missile systems is also a step in the right direction. It strengthens Ukraine’s air defenses, complicates Russian operations, and reminds Moscow that the U.S. is not withdrawing support, but recalibrating how it provides it.

Still, if this strategy is to succeed, it must go further. Tariffs and tough talk must be paired with military deterrence, cyber countermeasures, and expanded intelligence operations to blunt Russia’s battlefield advantages. Trump’s gambit should also be nested within a broader diplomatic campaign to reinvigorate international resolve — especially among nations that have been tempted to sit on the sidelines.

In the end, President Trump’s move marks a sharp and necessary turn. It is a welcome disruption of the status quo and a signal that America will not tolerate endless stalling from the Kremlin. But this is only the beginning. The tools of pressure must be sharpened, coordinated, and backed by action if they are to yield the peace we all seek.

The road ahead is steep. But with resolve, clarity, and smart diplomacy, it is not impassable.

Robert Maginnis is a retired U.S. Army infantry officer and is Family Research Council’s senior fellow for National Security. He is the author of 12 books, the most recent being “Preparing for World War III.”