Trump, Rutte Announce Ukraine Weapons Deal, Threaten Russia with Tariffs

President Donald Trump welcomed NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to the White House on Monday, unveiling a new weapons agreement for Ukraine and threatening Russia with steep tariffs if peace talks fail within 50 days, The Gaze reports, citing ABC news.

During their joint appearance, Trump confirmed that U.S.-made Patriot systems would be sent to Ukraine “very soon, within days.” 

He added that European countries possessing the systems would also begin transferring them. “They’re going to start arriving very soon,” Trump said.

Rutte emphasized that the upcoming delivery would include more than just Patriot systems, noting that it would involve a “wider range of military equipment.”

The leaders also announced a broader NATO weapons deal with Kyiv.

“We’ve made a deal today where we are going to be sending them weapons and they’re going to be paying for them. The United States will not be having any payment made,” Trump said. 

“We’re not buying it but we will manufacture it and they’re going to be paying for it.”

Calling the agreement “really big,” Rutte added: “This is the first wave, and there will be more. European countries want to be part of it.”

Opening the meeting, Trump issued a stark warning to Moscow: “We’re very, very unhappy with them. And we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days.”

“Tariffs at about 100%, you know what that means,” he said.

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