Rutte, Trump to Discuss Ukraine Arms Amid Shifting Alliances

NATO Chief’s Visit Coincides with Former President’s Pledge to Expedite Weaponry for Kyiv

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is slated for critical meetings in Washington this week, including talks with former President Donald Trump. The discussions come on the heels of Trump‘s announcement of plans to facilitate the sale of weaponry to NATO allies, with the intention that these nations would then supply Ukraine.

Strategic Arms Flow to Ukraine

The NATO leader’s agenda includes meetings on Monday and Tuesday with Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and members of Congress. This visit occurs as Trump, who has previously expressed skepticism about the cost of supporting Ukraine, signals a renewed interest in bolstering Kyiv’s defenses.

NATO Sec. Gen. @markrutte will meet President @realDonaldTrump this week. This comes as Trump announced plans to sell NATO allies weaponry that it can then pass on to Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/zB51eD68H7

— Associated Press (@AP) March 8, 2024

South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, indicated that substantial arms shipments to Ukraine are imminent. In the coming days, you’ll see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves, Graham stated on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” He added that Russian President Vladimir Putin may have miscalculated by engaging with Trump, predicting a significant effort to bring Putin to negotiations.

Potential for Frozen Russian Assets

The discussions also touch upon leveraging frozen Russian assets. Senators Lindsey Graham and Richard Blumenthal highlighted a growing consensus among lawmakers and European officials to utilize approximately $300 billion in Russian assets frozen by G7 countries. It’s time to do it, commented Blumenthal.

European Allies Seek Expedited Arms Transfers

U.S. allies in Europe are advocating for faster delivery of military aid. Marco Rubio explained that transferring existing U.S.-made weaponry from NATO allies in Europe to Ukraine is considerably quicker than manufacturing and shipping new equipment. It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine than it is to order it from a (U.S.) factory and get it there, Rubio told reporters during a visit to Kuala Lumpur.

French Defense Minister Sebastien Lecornu echoed this sentiment, noting France’s own “capacity hole” and the need to wait until next year for new ground-air missiles. European officials are reportedly urging the Trump administration to prioritize bolstering air defense capabilities in any forthcoming aid packages.

Sanctions Legislation and Economic Pressure

Pressure is mounting on Trump to support Senate legislation aimed at crippling Russia’s oil sector and imposing sanctions. The proposed bill includes a significant tariff, potentially 500%, on goods from countries that continue to import Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports. This measure could heavily impact the economies of China, India, and Brazil, major purchasers of Russian energy.

Graham emphasized the bill’s intent: My goal is to end this war. And the only way you are going to end this war is to get people who prop up Putin— make them choose between the American economy and helping Putin. The revenue from these exports is vital for sustaining Russia’s war efforts, particularly as Western nations have implemented extensive trade restrictions.

While Trump had previously considered new sanctions on Russia’s oil industry, he has recently expressed increasing frustration with Putin‘s handling of the protracted conflict. We get a lot of bull—- thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth, Trump remarked to reporters last week, adding that Putin‘s assurances have proven to be meaningless.

The Senate legislation, co-sponsored by Graham and Blumenthal, has broad bipartisan backing. However, Republican leadership has reportedly been awaiting Trump‘s approval to advance the bill. The White House has expressed concerns regarding the waiver process, with Trump insisting on retaining full authority over the lifting of sanctions or penalties, rather than ceding control to Congress. Blumenthal described the waiver provisions as consistent with previous measures, stressing the importance of unity.