President Donald Trump has threatened Russia with the imposition of a 100% tariff if a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine is not reached within the next 50 days. The announcement was made during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House. Trump underscored his belief in utilizing trade as a means of resolving conflicts. He stated that the tariffs would be ‘very severe’ and would be put into effect if a deal couldn’t be reached.
In addition to the tariff threat, Trump also confirmed that the US will be providing Patriot air defense systems to Kyiv, with the EU covering the expenses. Ongoing discussions regarding military aid to Ukraine, amid escalating tensions with Russia, were also highlighted. Furthermore, Trump discussed the US’s commitment to supplying weapons to NATO allies for them to subsequently transfer to Ukraine, a plan supported by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. High-level talks are planned with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy this week, where resuming weapons supply to Kyiv will be discussed.