Trump on Monday set out twin measures aimed at ending Russia’s war: a fresh flow of American‑made weapons and punitive trade action if peace talks stall.
Under the plan, countries such as Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden and Norway would purchase Patriot missile batteries and other US hardware, then transfer them to Ukraine.
“Europe has a lot of spirit for this war,” Trump told reporters alongside NATO Secretary‑General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office. “We’re sending a full complement of weapons.”
Trump coupled the arms move with a deadline: unless a settlement is reached within 50 days, Washington will impose “very severe” 100-percent tariffs on Russian goods and secondary sanctions on states buying Russian oil.
“I use trade for a lot of things,” he said. “But it’s great for settling wars.”
A White House official said the tariffs would hit Russia directly while secondary sanctions would target buyers such as India and China, potentially biting harder than existing measures given America’s limited bilateral trade with Moscow.
The initiative reflects the US leader’s mounting frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I felt we had a deal about four times,” Trump said. “My conversations with him are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night.”
NATO envoy Matt Whitaker called the European purchase‑and‑transfer scheme a "great step in ultimately bringing this war to a conclusion, to an end."
“All weapons are both offensive and defensive,” he added, leaving open the prospect of sending broader arsenals later.
Kyiv welcomed the move. After speaking to Trump, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the pair would stay in closer contact and hailed “a new decision on Patriots for Ukraine.”
He insisted Ukraine was “ready for all honest and effective steps toward lasting peace” but argued Moscow must be forced to negotiate.
Patriot batteries are among Kyiv’s most coveted shields against Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukrainian officials have told US counterparts the country needs about 10 new systems; Zelensky reiterated that request during last month’s NATO summit in the Netherlands, where European leaders began hashing out the current plan.
Selling systems to Europe rather than transferring them directly lets Trump avoid reversing his campaign pledge to pare back the US role in the conflict while still reaping commercial benefits.
Each Patriot set costs roughly USD 1 billion, a price the president cited approvingly.
Officials said positioning equipment already stationed in Europe would speed deployment to the front. NATO, which does not send arms itself, will act as clearing‑house, coordinating bilateral transfers and backfilling donors’ stockpiles with new US orders.
Talks on the mechanism intensified after Trump’s election victory last year raised doubts about future American aid. European capitals began exploring ways to sustain supply lines should Washington pull back.
In recent weeks, Rutte has canvassed interest among allies, telling US defense chiefs that multiple governments are eager to join the scheme.
Trump’s warning to Russia adds economic pressure alongside the promised weapons surge. Secondary sanctions would bar buyers of Russian oil from US markets, credit and insurance, a measure Whitaker said could “dramatically impact the Russian economy”.
For now, the White House hopes the twin levers of tariffs and armaments will push the Kremlin to talks.
“He’s seriously frustrated with Putin,” a US official said of Trump. “Maybe this will show it’s time to negotiate.”
Should diplomacy fail, Kyiv could soon see an influx of Patriots, short‑range missiles, Howitzer rounds and medium‑range air‑to‑air weapons – hardware Ukrainian commanders say is essential to protect civilians and hold their lines.
(jh)
Source: CNN, PAP
Click on the audio player above for a report by Marcin Matuszewski.