US President Donald Trump issued a firm ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday, warning that the United States will impose severe 100% tariffs on Russia if a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine is not reached within 50 days.
Speaking during a joint press conference with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump expressed deep dissatisfaction with Moscow’s ongoing military actions in Ukraine. He emphasized that he had previously reached preliminary agreements with Russia to end the conflict on at least four occasions, but none had come to fruition.
“I thought a deal should have been made a long time ago,” Trump stated. He voiced concern over the continued loss of life on both the Russian and Ukrainian sides, highlighting the devastating human cost of the war.
“Today we finalized a deal to send weapons to Ukraine”
Trump also announced that the United States had finalized an agreement to supply advanced military equipment to Ukraine. He said the US will deliver Patriot missile systems and other high-tech weapons as part of a coordinated NATO effort.
“Today, we finalized a deal to send weapons to Ukraine. We’re delivering the best to NATO,” Trump said, noting that the alliance will oversee the distribution of equipment. He stressed that this shipment involves billions of dollars’ worth of US-purchased military assets that will be rapidly deployed to the front lines.
According to Trump, the war must come to an end, and the new military support will strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities. He acknowledged the bravery of Ukrainian forces but pointed out their significant equipment losses.
“Great news for Ukraine”
NATO Secretary General Rutte welcomed the development, calling it “great news for Ukraine.” He thanked the president and explained that the aid package will allow Ukraine to obtain substantial quantities of defense equipment, including air defense systems, missiles, and ammunition.
Rutte also condemned Russia’s bombing of Ukrainian cities, accusing Moscow of targeting civilians to create widespread panic rather than pursuing legitimate military objectives.
Trump reiterated that had he been in the White House in 2022 when the Russian invasion began, the war would not have occurred. He referenced several past international crises he claimed to have resolved and underscored his frequent communications with Putin before the conflict erupted.
Both leaders stressed the urgency of ending the war and affirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine’s defense.
Trump praised NATO’s decision to raise defense spending
Donald Trump praised NATO’s recent decision to increase defense spending among member states, highlighting a new agreement that raises the target from 2% to 5% of each country’s GDP by 2035.
Speaking after the June NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump said the alliance has made significant progress toward strengthening collective defense. He commended the summit’s outcome and expressed optimism about the alliance’s direction.
“We made a lot of friends there,” Trump said, referring to the participating nations. He described many member states as “excellent people” and “very stable, strong countries.”
Trump’s remarks mark a notable endorsement of NATO’s evolving strategic goals, particularly in the face of ongoing global security threats. He emphasized that the increase in defense investment is essential to ensuring long-term peace and stability within the alliance.
