US President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with new, high tariffs if it does not agree to a deal to end the war in Ukraine within 50 days.
Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said he was “very unhappy” with Moscow’s behavior.
“We will produce state-of-the-art weapons and send them to NATO,” Trump said, adding that the distribution, including deliveries to Ukraine, would be coordinated by the alliance itself.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte described Trump’s decision as historic. “This is a really big deal,” Rutte said, adding that it would allow Ukraine to maintain its defenses against Russia. He pointed out that European countries would cover the cost of the weapons, to which Trump added: “That makes perfect sense.”
Rutte concluded that this model of building European responsibility comes as a continuation of the success of the recent NATO summit, saying that “the Europeans are now taking the lead.”
Kremlin analysts have previously announced that they think Trump will also threaten nuclear weapons.
