Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Russia, announcing plans to impose 100% tariffs unless Moscow agrees to a peace deal with Ukraine within the next 50 days. The move is part of a broader strategy to pressure Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, which is now in its fourth year.
Speaking during a press conference at the White House alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump expressed frustration with Putin’s unwillingness to negotiate a settlement.
“We’re very unhappy with Russia and we’ll be doing very severe tariffs … at about 100%,” Trump said. “We’ve spent \$250 billion on this war … and we want to see it end.”
Trump accused Putin of being disingenuous, stating:
“I thought he was somebody that meant what he said. And he’ll talk so beautifully and then bomb people at night. We don’t like that.”
NATO Agreement to Arm Ukraine
Trump also announced a new deal struck with NATO to send weapons to Ukraine. Under the arrangement, NATO will finance the shipment, with the U.S. providing the equipment.
“We made a deal today where we will be sending weapons to Ukraine, and NATO will be paying for it,” Trump declared.
This marks a shift in Trump’s recent policy, as he previously hesitated to commit to further military support. The latest deal reportedly includes the Patriot missile defense system, regarded as one of the world’s most advanced air defense technologies. The system is capable of intercepting ballistic missiles and other airborne threats.
European Support for Ukraine’s Air Defense
At the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that Germany has agreed to fund two Patriot systems, while Norway will supply one. Additional support is expected from other European partners.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained that weapons already deployed with NATO allies in Europe could be quickly transferred to Ukraine, with replacements ordered from U.S. manufacturers.
“It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine than it is to order it from a U.S. factory and get it there,” Rubio told reporters at the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur.
Kyiv Launches “Clear Sky” Drone Defense Initiative
Following a series of missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, Ukrainian authorities announced the launch of a comprehensive aerial defense project, “Clear Sky.” The initiative involves a €5.3 million investment in interceptor drones, mobile response units, and operator training, aimed at improving urban defense capabilities.
Diplomatic Talks Continue in Washington
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Washington for further talks with Trump, Secretary of State Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and members of Congress.
“We’re going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated weapons, and they’re going to pay us 100% for them,” Trump reiterated.
The latest developments highlight growing pressure on Moscow and signal a renewed U.S.-NATO push to bolster Ukraine’s defense while seeking a diplomatic resolution to the conflict.
