Washington [US], July 15 (ANI): In a major policy shift, U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced new military aid for Ukraine and threatened sweeping tariffs on Russia’s trading partners unless Moscow ends its war within 50 days, The Hill reported.
Unveiling the plan during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Trump said Europe would fund the delivery of advanced American weaponry to Kyiv—including the Patriot missile defense systems—amid escalating Russian airstrikes on the Ukrainian capital.
“These weapons can move quickly to Kyiv,” Trump said, though he did not offer a specific delivery timeline.
This move comes on the heels of NATO’s recent decision to ramp up collective defense spending.
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the United States has provided over $175 billion in aid—most of it under the Biden administration. By contrast, Trump, during his current term, had temporarily halted intelligence sharing and suspended deliveries of defensive arms, raising concerns over the consistency of American support.
Despite previously calling Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky “ungrateful,” Trump’s recent remarks suggest a shift in tone. On Monday, he sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of deceiving U.S. leaders and continuing missile strikes despite diplomatic outreach.
“I always hang up and say, ‘Well, that was a nice phone call,’ and then missiles launch into Kyiv or some other city,” Trump told reporters. “That happens three or four times—you realize the talk doesn’t mean anything.”
Trump has recently intensified his rhetoric against Putin. In an interview with the BBC, he referred to the Russian president as a “tough guy” and expressed disappointment.
“I trust almost no one,” Trump said when asked if he trusted Putin.
Meanwhile, Zelensky met in Kyiv on Monday with Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine, retired Gen. Keith Kellogg. In a statement, Zelensky said he was “grateful to President Trump for the important signals of support,” and stressed that Ukraine values “the support of the American people.”
Ukraine hawks within the GOP welcomed Trump’s announcement. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called the combined weapons support and tariff threats a “turning point” in the conflict, according to The Hill.
However, the announcement has sparked friction within Trump’s political base. MAGA-aligned Republicans remain skeptical of continued U.S. involvement in the war, and Trump is simultaneously facing internal backlash over unrelated controversies involving the Justice Department and FBI.
In Congress, bipartisan momentum is building for harsher measures against Moscow. A Senate bill proposing 500 percent tariffs on Russia and its allies currently has 85 co-sponsors. Trump acknowledged discussing the legislation with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.), but downplayed its necessity:
“I’m not sure we need it, but it’s certainly good they’re doing it,” he said.
Trump’s own plan includes secondary tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that maintain economic ties with Russia if a ceasefire is not reached within two months. He warned that the sanctions would severely damage Russia’s already weakened economy.
In response, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev mocked Trump’s ultimatum on social media, dismissing it as “a theatrical ultimatum” and claiming that “Russia didn’t care,” according to The Hill.
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