WASHINGTON. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to impose steep tariffs on Russia and announced an expanded supply of U.S. weapons for Ukraine, signaling a tougher stance on Moscow amid growing frustration over the ongoing war.
Trump said he would implement “severe tariffs” unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days. Though details were scarce, he described the proposed measures as “secondary tariffs,” which would target Russia’s trading partners to increase economic pressure on Moscow.
Speaking in the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump also said European allies would purchase “billions and billions” of dollars’ worth of American military equipment to support Ukraine’s defense. The weapons package includes Patriot air defense systems, a critical need for Ukraine in countering continued Russian missile and drone attacks.
This marks a shift for Trump, who had previously blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for prolonging the war. Now, Trump is directing more criticism at Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “My conversations with him are very pleasant, and then the missiles go off at night… it just keeps going on and on.”
Zelenskyy said he spoke with Trump by phone on Monday, describing the exchange as a discussion about “better protection for people from Russian attacks” and coordination on future actions. He added that both agreed to stay in closer contact moving forward.
Rutte said countries including Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the UK and Denmark would fund the weapons for Ukraine. Some deliveries, he noted, would be fast-tracked, with U.S. purchases replacing the shipped items later.
In a parallel diplomatic effort, Trump’s special envoy, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv to discuss enhanced air defenses, joint arms production and further international sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy said, “We hope for the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its ambitions are stopped by force.”
Russia has continued to bombard Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv, with a surge in civilian casualties reported. June recorded the highest monthly civilian death toll in three years, with 232 people killed and over 1,300 wounded, according to the UN human rights mission in Ukraine.
The Pentagon had previously paused U.S. weapons shipments over stockpile concerns, casting doubt on continued support. Trump’s latest announcements appear to reverse that hesitation.
In Berlin, German officials confirmed plans to fund two more Patriot systems for Ukraine, while reiterating the importance of U.S. involvement in European security. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius traveled to Washington to meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Trump also floated a 100% tariff on products from countries that continue buying Russian oil, potentially impacting trade with major buyers like China and India. A bipartisan Senate bill proposes 500% tariffs and expanded sanctions on Russian exports. While Trump expressed some skepticism about the bill, he said, “It could be very useful. We’ll have to see.”
Critics, including senior Russian lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev, accused Trump of benefiting the U.S. military-industrial complex. Kirill Dmitriev, a Russian envoy involved in earlier talks, downplayed the pressure, saying, “Constructive dialogue between Russia and the United States is more effective.”
Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally and co-sponsor of the sanctions bill, said over the weekend that Trump is now more engaged in supporting Ukraine. “You’ll see weapons flowing at a record level,” Graham said, predicting a major diplomatic push to bring Putin to the negotiating table.
Despite the complexities, Trump defended using trade as leverage, saying, “I use trade for a lot of things… but it’s great for settling wars.”
Edgardo Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
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