WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday (Jul 14) informed Russia to resolve its battle in Ukraine inside 50 days or face extreme new financial sanctions, as he introduced a major arms deal with NATO to assist Kyiv’s defences.
“We’re very, very sad” with Russia, Trump informed reporters throughout a gathering on the White Home with NATO Secretary-Common Mark Rutte.
“We will be doing very extreme tariffs if we do not have a deal in 50 days, tariffs at about one hundred pc,” he stated. Trump added that these can be “secondary tariffs” concentrating on Russia’s remaining commerce companions, aiming to additional isolate Moscow amid ongoing Western sanctions.
MAJOR ARMS DEAL WITH NATO
Trump and Rutte additionally unveiled an settlement beneath which NATO will buy weapons from the US, together with Patriot air defence methods, and distribute them to Ukraine.
“That is billions of {dollars} value of army gear… going to NATO, and that is going to be rapidly distributed to the battlefield,” Trump stated.
Rutte, a former Dutch prime minister, stated Ukraine would obtain “huge numbers” of weapons beneath the deal.
Trump, who started his second time period in January, had beforehand tried rapprochement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, promising to finish the Ukraine battle inside 24 hours of taking workplace.
Nevertheless, his stance has hardened in latest weeks, particularly as Russia intensified its aerial assaults.
“I do not need to say he is an murderer, however he is a troublesome man,” Trump stated of Putin.
Final week, Trump teased a significant Russia announcement for Monday. On Sunday, he confirmed that the US would ship Patriot methods to Ukraine, reversing an earlier plan to pause some weapons transfers.