NATO will pay for and distribute the weapons; tariffs will take effect unless Russia, Ukraine reach peace deal within 50 days
President Donald Trump on Monday announced major developments in his policy on Russia’s more than three-year-long war on Ukraine, saying that the United States will provide Ukraine with “top-of-the-line” weapons through NATO and that, if no peace deal is reached within 50 days, he will impose 100 percent tariffs on countries doing business with Russia.
NATO allies will pay for and deliver to Ukraine 17 U.S.-made Patriot missile defense systems to bolster the country’s defenses against Russian attacks, Trump said during a White House meeting with NATO secretary general Mark Rutte.
Trump also said he has given Russia 50 days to end the war, threatening 100 percent tariffs on Moscow’s trading partners unless Russia and Ukraine agree to a ceasefire. “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump said. “It’s very simple, and they’ll be at 100 percent.”
The announcement comes as Trump ramps up pressure on Russian president Vladimir Putin amid what Secretary of State Marco Rubio called a “lack of progress” in seeking a ceasefire to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Trump has said that he is “disappointed” with Putin and that the Russian leader “talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening.”
In addition to the Patriots, which are primarily used for defense, the Trump administration may also provide Ukraine with long-range offensive missiles capable of striking deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow, Axios reported Sunday. U.S. military aid to Ukraine so far has been limited to defensive weapons.
