President Donald Trump on Monday formally announced that the U.S. will be providing weapons to Ukraine that will be paid for by NATO allies as he expresses increasing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over an apparent lack of progress to end the fighting.
Trump also said the U.S. would move on imposing secondary tariffs on Russia if a ceasefire deal with Ukraine is not in place in 50 days.
The long-anticipated and highly teased announcement came during an Oval Office meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, who called the agreement for the U.S. to send weapons “really big.”
Trump stressed that the U.S. would be manufacturing the weapons — repeating his declaration that America makes the “best military equipment in the world” — which will then be paid for by countries in NATO, with the alliance coordinating the effort.
“This is, again, Europeans stepping up,” Rutte said, noting the deal is fresh off NATO allies agreeing to step up their defense spending target to 5%, a level Trump has long pushed for.
Asked what weapons will be sent, Trump said “everything,” including patriot missiles, which he has noted recently that Ukraine particularly needs.
Rutte listed several countries, including Germany, Denmark, Canada and new alliance members Sweden and Finland as wanting to take part in the agreement. He said this is only the “first wave” and there will be more. Trump noted the U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker will be helping with the coordination.
On the threat of new tariffs, Trump stressed the significance of taking such a step. The 50-day runway he gave to still try to work out an agreement first comes as the Senate has been working on the details of a bipartisan bill introduced months ago that would place new primary and secondary sanctions on Russia and those aiding its war effort. Goods imported from nations that buy Russian oil, gas, uranium and more would also face a 500% tariff under the legislation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said last week that he hopes to get the legislation to the floor before the end of the month.
Trump also used the announcement to continue to lament how he was “very unhappy” with the Russian leader, asserting it is all “talk” with him. Last week, he told reporters Putin is “very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Trump has been working, thus far unsuccessfully, for months to try to secure an end to the fighting in Ukraine — something he declared on the 2024 campaign trail he could accomplish on his first day back in office. He has since said such a comment was made in jest.
With a deal remaining elusive, the president has stepped up his criticism of Putin.
Rutte said Monday that Ukraine “wants a peace deal” to which Trump responded by saying they have to continue to want it.