U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to send advanced military weapons to Ukraine through NATO allies and threatened Russia with sweeping trade tariffs if a peace deal to end the war is not reached within 50 days.
The announcement came following his meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington.
Trump said the United States would provide “top-of-the-line weapons” to Ukraine, to be delivered through NATO member countries. European nations, in turn, will send their existing Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, with U.S. replacements provided for their own stockpiles.
The move is aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s defense against escalating Russian airstrikes, though specific weapons were not disclosed.
Rutte confirmed the deal includes missiles and ammunition, with European countries covering much of the cost.
“We want to make sure Ukraine can do what it wants to do,” Trump said. Rutte added that if he were in President Vladimir Putin’s position, he would start taking negotiations “more seriously” in light of the development.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the move, expressing gratitude to Trump during a call after the meeting. Zelensky said they discussed ways to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses and move toward a “just and lasting peace.”
Alongside the weapons announcement, Trump issued a sharp warning to Russia: unless a peace agreement is reached within 50 days, the U.S. will impose 100% secondary tariffs on nations that continue trading with Moscow.
This would mean any country—such as India—that purchases Russian oil or goods would see its exports to the U.S. taxed at 100%, making them prohibitively expensive.
The strategy is designed to isolate Russia economically and cut off key revenue streams used to finance the war, particularly its oil and gas sector, which accounts for over 60% of Russian exports and nearly a third of its national income.
Despite the threat, the Moscow Stock Exchange index rose sharply following the announcement—possibly reflecting relief that Trump’s response wasn’t even more aggressive, especially after he previously teased a major statement on Russia.
Kremlin officials have not officially responded, but early reactions from Moscow suggest skepticism. Pro-Kremlin analyst and former Putin aide Sergei Markov dismissed the tariffs as “a bluff,” while Russian Senator Konstantin Kosachev called Trump’s remarks “much ado about nothing.”
Still, Trump’s comments marked a notable shift in tone.
While he once seemed confident he could easily broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, he now appears more frustrated by the ongoing war.
He admitted that repeated airstrikes from Russia following “very nice phone calls” with Putin have changed his perspective.
“At a certain point, talk doesn’t talk, it’s got to be action,” Trump said.
“I don’t want to call him [Putin] an assassin, but he’s a tough guy… He fooled Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Biden. He didn’t fool me.”
While Trump has often questioned the cost of U.S. involvement in Ukraine, this marks his first significant pledge of military support since returning to the White House.
However, some details of the deal remain unclear, including the full scope of the weapons to be delivered and how quickly they will reach Ukrainian forces.
On Capitol Hill, the announcement drew mixed reactions.
Democratic Senator Jeanne Shaheen praised the move, particularly the commitment to send Patriot missiles, but described it as “overdue.”
She emphasized the need for a steady and long-term security assistance plan to pressure Russia into ending the conflict.
Meanwhile, some Ukrainians expressed cautious optimism.
Denys Podilchuk, a 39-year-old dentist from Kyiv, credited European leaders for influencing Trump.
“From the beginning, it seemed like he didn’t really want to help us,” he said.
“I’m pleased that European politicians, with their patience and convictions, have slightly swayed him to our side.”
Despite two failed ceasefire talks earlier this year, no new negotiations are currently scheduled.
While Trump’s announcement signals a firmer U.S. stance, whether it leads to peace—or further escalation—remains uncertain.
