^{A launcher of a Patriot air defence system of the Ukrainian Air Forces is seen on the ground, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in an undisclosed location, Ukraine August 4, 2024. REUTERS/Valentyn Ogirenko/File Photo}

European countries will buy U.S. weapons to send to Ukraine, Trump says

The Washington Post 14-07-2025

European countries will buy advanced U.S. weapons, including air defense systems, to send to Ukraine, President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced Monday during a meeting at the White House. The boost to Kyiv follows Trump’s frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s continued bombardment of Ukraine. Trump also threatened new tariffs and sanctions on Russia. Later, Trump plans to attend a luncheon for the White House Faith Office. He established the office by executive order early in his term as a liaison between federal agencies and religious groups.

President Donald Trump on Monday praised Europe for having “a lot of spirit” in defending Ukraine in its war against Russia.

“They really think it’s a very, very important thing to do,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Trump also said that a “strong Europe is a very good thing.”

His rhetoric marked a shift in favour of the European position toward the war. Trump has spent months working to end the conflict but has grown frustrated in recent days with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that European countries will buy U.S.-made weapons to help Ukraine defend itself in its war against Russia.

“In a nutshell, we’re going to make top-of-the-line weapons, and they’ll be sent to NATO,” Trump said during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office.

“This is really big,” Rutte said.

Trump threatens ‘secondary tariffs’^* against Russia if it doesn’t end Ukraine war in 50 days

President Donald Trump’s meeting with NATO General Secretary Mark Rutte is underway. Trump opened by saying he was “very unhappy” with Russia and threatened “secondary tariffs” against Moscow if it did not reach a deal to end the war in Ukraine in 50 days.

“I’m disappointed in [Russian President Vladimir] Putin because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago, but it doesn’t seem to get there,” Trump said. “So based on that, we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days. It’s very simple. And they’ll be at 100 percent. And that’s the way it is. It can be more simple. That’s just the way it is.”

Trump has threatened “secondary tariffs” before to mean “secondary sanctions,” referring to sanctions on buyers of Russian energy. It is likely that he meant that on Monday rather than imposing 100-percent tariffs on Russian imports.

“Again, it’s a war that should have never started,” Trump said later.

*_{Secondary tariffs are a type of trade barrier, similar to sanctions, imposed on countries that trade with a nation targeted by the primary tariff.ENB}