US President gives Moscow 50 days to end Ukraine war as Washington pivots to indirect military support through European allies
President Donald Trump announced on Monday he would impose “severe tariffs” of up to 100 percent on Russia if it fails to reach a peace deal to end the Ukraine war within 50 days, whilst confirming a new arrangement to supply weapons to Kyiv through NATO allies.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump said the United States would sell “top of the line weapons” to NATO members, who would then transfer them to Ukraine. The arrangement shifts the financial burden from American taxpayers to European allies whilst maintaining military support for Kyiv.
We’ve made a deal where we are going to be sending them weapons, and they’re going to be paying for them,” Trump told reporters. This is billions of dollars worth of military equipment which is going to be purchased from the United States, going to NATO, and that’s going to be quickly distributed to the battlefield.
The president coupled the weapons announcement with his harshest economic threat yet against Moscow, warning of punitive tariffs if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not agree to peace negotiations. We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump said during the meeting with Rutte.
Shifting Military Support Strategy
The new arms arrangement represents a significant shift in how American weapons reach Ukraine, allowing European allies to act as intermediaries for US military equipment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio explained on Friday that the plan would accelerate weapons deliveries whilst addressing Trump’s concerns about burden-sharing within NATO.
Some of the U.S.-made weapons that Ukraine is seeking are deployed with NATO allies in Europe,” Rubio told reporters during a visit to Kuala Lumpur. It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine than it is to order it from a factory and get it there.
The arrangement allows Ukraine to get weapons it needs in its war with Russia while providing a way for Europe to increase its defense spending as promised. Ukraine had reportedly requested such an arrangement earlier this month, despite usual restrictions on the resale of US weapons.
A Trump administration official told media outlets that the US is “not sending weapons to Ukraine” but rather “sending defensive weapons to NATO” and “NATO can decide what to do with it.” Another source indicated the weapons could include offensive weaponry, not just air defence systems.
Rutte’s Diplomatic Offensive
The announcement followed intensive diplomacy by Rutte, who has undertaken what observers describe as an unprecedented charm offensive towards Trump. The NATO chief posted on social media platform X following their Thursday conversation: “Russia’s continued massive attacks against Ukrainian civilians are deplorable.
Earlier today I urged leaders to go further so Ukraine has more ammunition & air defences,” Rutte wrote. I’ve just spoken with President Trump & am now working closely with Allies to get Ukraine the help they need.
French Defence Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed European officials have been pressing the Trump administration to prioritise air defence capabilities in any weapons packages. France faces a “capacity hole” and cannot provide Ukraine with new ground-air missiles until next year, he told La Tribune Dimanche.
The NATO spokesperson said in a statement: “Allies continue to work to ensure Ukraine has the support they need to defend themselves against Russia’s aggression. This includes urgent efforts to procure key supplies from the United States, including air defence and ammunition.”
Escalating Economic Threats
Trump’s threat of 100 percent tariffs marks a significant escalation in his rhetoric towards Russia, which had previously been exempted from his broader tariff policies. The president described himself as “very unhappy” with Moscow and “disappointed” in Putin’s lack of flexibility.
The war has got to stop,” Trump said, adding that he would make a “major statement” on Russia policy. The threatened “secondary tariffs” would represent a new trade policy tool, potentially targeting third-party countries that continue trading with Russia.
A bipartisan Senate bill sponsored by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham proposes even steeper penalties – 500 percent tariffs on countries importing Russian oil, gas, and uranium. China and India, which account for roughly 70 percent of Russia’s energy exports, would face enormous economic impact from such measures.
Congressional Support Building
Senator Graham confirmed he and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal would meet with Rutte on Monday, declaring “a turning point regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is coming.” The bipartisan legislation aims to cripple Russia’s oil industry through secondary sanctions.
In 2023, crude petroleum, petroleum gas and refined petroleum constituted nearly 54 percent of total Russian exports, making energy sanctions potentially devastating to Moscow’s war financing capabilities. European countries also paid more than $700 million for Russian uranium products in 2024, according to Brussels-based think tank Bruegel.
Trump’s evolving stance has created tension within his political base. Several conservative supporters expressed disappointment after he announced the resumption of weapons shipments to Ukraine. I did not vote for this,” wrote Derrick Evans, a Trump supporter pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Pressure Mounts on All Sides
The 50-day deadline places immediate pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv to engage in meaningful negotiations. Trump had campaigned on promises to end the war within 24 hours of taking office, but more than six months later, a ceasefire appears as remote as ever.
Rubio acknowledged the administration’s frustration following his second meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Friday. Trump was “disappointed and frustrated that there’s not been more flexibility on the Russian side” to bring an end to the conflict, the Secretary of State told reporters.
The Trump administration briefly halted direct military support to Ukraine last week before resuming shipments, apparently blindsiding even the president. Between January 2022 and April 2025, the United States has provided Ukraine with approximately $134 billion in aid, according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
As the deadline approaches, European allies are scrambling to secure additional weapons supplies whilst preparing for potential economic fallout from sanctions on Russia. The war, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022, has claimed more than 240,000 soldiers on both sides, according to Ukrainian estimates.
Follow for more updates on Britannia Daily
Image Credit:
Condoleezza Rice and Donald Trump in the Oval Office, March 2017 – Official White House Photo by Shealah Craighead, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
View Image
