Trump Demands Putin Deal or Faces 100% Tariffs

NATO Nations to Fund New Ukraine Arms Shipment

The United States is set to deliver a substantial new weapons package to Ukraine, financed by NATO member states. This move coincides with President Donald Trump issuing an ultimatum to Russian President Vladimir Putin, demanding a resolution to the Ukraine conflict within 50 days.

Economic Pressure Mounts

In a joint announcement with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump voiced significant dissatisfaction with Putin‘s persistent refusal to engage in peace talks. “We’re very, very unhappy with him and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about 100 per cent,” Trump stated. The White House later specified that these tariffs would target Russia, with which U.S. trade is minimal, and would be coupled with secondary sanctions on nations purchasing Russian oil.

NATO-Funded Weapons for Kyiv

Trump also revealed a pivotal agreement: “we are going to be sending them weapons and they’re [NATO] going to be paying for them.” Rutte hailed the arrangement as a significant step, remarking, “It will mean that Ukraine can get its hands on really massive numbers of military equipment, both for air defence, but also missiles, ammunition, etc.” He advised Putin to take negotiations more seriously, considering the impending actions and the 50-day deadline. As of this report, Ukraine has received over $100 billion in military aid from its allies since the full-scale invasion began, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy’s Ukraine Support Tracker.

Shift in Trump’s Stance

This announcement follows Trump‘s earlier confirmation that the U.S. would supply Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine. While Trump has historically expressed reservations about sustained Ukrainian aid, even criticizing President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, his rhetoric concerning Putin has intensified. He has recently voiced doubts about Putin‘s commitment to peace, lamenting past missed opportunities for resolution. “Maybe he’ll start negotiating,” Trump mused, recalling perceived near-deals. “I felt that we had a deal about four times. And here we are still talking about it.”