US President Donald Trump on Monday pledged to deliver “top-of-the-line weapons” to Ukraine through NATO allies, while threatening Russia with sweeping secondary tariffs if a peace agreement is not reached within 50 days.
The announcement came after a meeting between President Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington, where both leaders signalled a significant escalation in Western support for Ukraine amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
“We want to make sure Ukraine can do what it wants to do,” Trump told reporters at the joint presser, with Rutte confirming that the United States had agreed to "massively supply Ukraine with what is necessary through NATO," adding that European countries would finance the delivery.
Though specifics were scarce, the two leaders indicated that the package would include missiles and ammunition. Patriot air defence systems, crucial in intercepting Russian air raids, would be dispatched by European countries, with replacements supplied by the United States.
Trump stated the weapons were worth “billions of dollars” and would be delivered to the battlefield “very quickly.” “If I was Vladimir Putin today... I would reconsider whether I should not take negotiations about Ukraine more seriously,” Rutte added, drawing a nod from Trump.
Tariffs Warning
In a separate move aimed at pressuring Moscow, Trump said the US would impose 100% secondary tariffs on countries that continue trading with Russia if a ceasefire or peace agreement is not reached within 50 days.
The measure would make it economically unviable for US companies to import goods from nations such as India, should they continue energy trade with Russia. “This is about choking the financial lifelines that fund Russia’s war machine,” Trump said.
With oil and gas making up over 60% of Russian exports and nearly a third of state revenue, the tariffs could significantly undercut Moscow’s ability to sustain its military operations in Ukraine.
However, the Russian stock market responded unexpectedly — the Moscow Stock Exchange Index surged, reflecting investor relief that the announcement was less severe than anticipated.
Zelensky Reacts
Following the briefing, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed in a post on social media platform X that he had spoken with Trump. He thanked the US leader for his “willingness to support Ukraine” and described their dialogue as focused on “solutions to protect civilians from Russian attacks.”
“We are ready to work as productively as possible to achieve peace,” Zelensky added.
The Ukrainian president is also hosting US envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv, hailing the discussions as “productive.”
Trump Shifts Tone on Putin
Trump, who has previously drawn criticism for his conciliatory tone towards Russian President Vladimir Putin, adopted markedly harsher language in Monday’s briefing.
“I don’t want to call him an assassin, but he’s a tough guy. It’s been proven over the years — he fooled a lot of people — Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden,” Trump said. “He didn’t fool me.”
He expressed frustration over “nice phone calls” with Putin followed by intensified Russian airstrikes, saying such actions rendered diplomacy meaningless. “At a certain point, talk doesn’t talk, it’s got to be action,” he said.
Reactions from Moscow and Beyond
The Kremlin did not immediately issue a formal statement, but Russian analysts downplayed the US president’s remarks. Former Putin aide Sergei Markov dismissed the tariff threat as “a bluff,” claiming it showed Trump had “given up on trying to achieve peace in Ukraine.”
Meanwhile, Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev argued that the announcement fell short of expectations. “If this is all Trump had to say about Ukraine today, then so far it's been much ado about nothing,” he said.
Mixed Response in the US and Europe
The response to Trump’s announcement has been mixed. While critics from within the Democratic Party welcomed the weapons pledge, they questioned its timing and long-term viability.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a senior Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, called the announcement “positive, but overdue.”
“The decision to send Patriot missiles, made possible through the meaningful investments of our European partners, will save countless Ukrainian lives from Putin’s horrific assault,” she said. However, she emphasised the need for “a sustained flow of security assistance” to end the war.
In Ukraine, the announcement drew cautious optimism. Denys Podilchuk, a Kyiv-based dentist, told Reuters that he believed European leaders had influenced Trump’s decision.
“I am pleased that finally European politicians, with their patience and convictions, have slightly swayed him (Trump) to our side,” he said. “From the very beginning it was clear that he did not really want to help us.”
Outlook Uncertain
Two rounds of ceasefire negotiations were held earlier this year, but no follow-up meetings have been scheduled, with Moscow blaming Kyiv for the deadlock.
With a 50-day deadline looming and Trump’s latest shift in tone, observers now await whether his new measures — both military and economic — will push Russia back to the negotiating table or escalate the conflict further.
