President Trump announced plans to expedite the transfer of weapons to Ukraine and issued a warning to Russia, stating that if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days, he would impose new sanctions.
During a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Mr. Trump emphasized that the weapons would be "quickly distributed to the battlefield" and mentioned the possibility of secondary sanctions on countries that conduct trade with Russia.
Mr. Trump expressed disappointment with President Putin, citing a lack of progress in negotiations that he had hoped would conclude two months prior. “It’s just the way it is,” he remarked, hoping that sanctions would not be necessary.
While addressing questions about his perceptions of President Putin's intentions, Mr. Trump affirmed that he did not feel manipulated by the Russian leader, despite acknowledging the ongoing escalation of Russian attacks on Ukraine.
Mr. Trump described his dialogues with Mr. Putin as generally amicable but noted the disconnect between these conversations and Russia's military actions. He criticized Mr. Putin for failing to honor agreements aimed at ending the conflict.
The meeting with Mr. Rutte was also aimed at finalizing a plan for the U.S. to sell Patriot air defense missiles to NATO allies, who would then transfer them to Ukraine. Mr. Trump confirmed that this agreement was fully approved and stated that Ukraine would receive a variety of weapons, which NATO allies would pay for completely.
Despite his threats to hold Russia accountable for its attacks, Mr. Trump had yet to implement significant economic penalties. Proposed sanctions targeting Russia’s energy sector could have a more substantial impact than tariffs on goods exported to the U.S.
While Mr. Trump indicated that secondary tariffs were on the table, White House officials later clarified that broader secondary sanctions were also being considered. This announcement comes amid increasing pressure from U.S. lawmakers and European leaders to impose more stringent sanctions on Russia.
Since taking office, Mr. Trump has sought to use his rapport with Mr. Putin to negotiate an end to the war, a goal he had previously claimed could be achieved in just a day.