Trump Announces U.S. Arms for Ukraine, Warns Russia of Major Tariffs

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U.S. President Donald Trump has unveiled a new agreement with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to deliver advanced American weaponry to Ukraine while warning Russia it faces sweeping tariffs if it fails to reach a ceasefire within 50 days.

During a meeting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, President Trump confirmed that the United States will manufacture sophisticated air defense systems and precision-guided missiles, which European governments will purchase and deliver directly to Ukraine. Trump emphasized that Kyiv will be fully responsible for covering the costs of these shipments, underscoring that American taxpayers would not bear the burden. According to the president, this approach demonstrates a stronger European commitment to shared security interests while ensuring U.S. defense industries remain engaged without unlimited giveaways.

The governments of Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Canada have agreed to fund large-scale purchases, which defense analysts estimate could exceed 10 billion United States dollars when training, spare parts, and munitions are included. One Patriot air defense battery alone can reportedly cost around 1 billion dollars, illustrating the scale of the operation.

President Trump also issued what he described as a “severe” economic warning to Moscow. He declared that if Russia refuses to negotiate peace within the set timeframe, his administration will impose tariffs and additional sanctions that could effectively double the cost of Russian exports. U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick later clarified that Trump’s remarks about “secondary tariffs” referred to economic sanctions targeting Russian banks and energy companies that violate the Group of Seven (G7) price cap on oil sales.

Brookings Institution Senior Fellow Michael O’Hanlon described the combined military aid and economic penalties as the most significant escalation of American involvement since the early years of the conflict. “This dual strategy puts enormous pressure on the Kremlin, economically and militarily,” O’Hanlon told the Wall Street Journal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the initiative, saying in a statement posted to social media that he had a “very good conversation” with President Trump and expressed appreciation for the willingness to help Ukraine resist Russian aggression.

Predictably, Russian officials dismissed the announcement. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, called Trump’s deadline a “theatrical ultimatum” that Moscow would ignore. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the United States of fueling escalation but stopped short of outlining any concrete countermeasures.

In Europe, the German Defense Ministry said it would coordinate deliveries with allies, although some lawmakers expressed reservations about sending Taurus cruise missiles, fearing the potential for further provocation. RAND Corporation military analyst Dara Massicot told the Washington Post that the influx of advanced weapons could force Russia to reconsider how it defends areas it previously considered secure.

The agreement marks a decisive step by the United States and NATO to intensify pressure on Russia while signaling that Europe, not Washington alone, will shoulder the costs of supporting Ukraine’s defense.