President Donald Trump announced in the Oval Office that the United States will supply Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine through NATO, bolstering Kyiv’s defences as drone attacks intensify.
Trump warned Russia that if a lasting ceasefire deal isn’t reached within 50 days, Washington will impose severe tariffs—including 100 percent duties on Russian goods and secondary sanctions on other buyers.
Trump said billions of dollars of U.S. weapons would go to Ukraine, and that the first Patriot systems are expected within days. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada are keen to rearm Ukraine.
On Capitol Hill, 85 of 100 U.S. senators co-sponsor a bill granting Trump authority to impose punitive tariffs of up to 500 percent on any country trading with Russia. Republican leaders await the president’s go-ahead for a vote.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trump for his support and pledged to work toward stopping the killings and establishing a lasting and just peace.
Global Reactions
UN Secretary-General AntĂłnio Guterres urged an immediate ceasefire to pave the way for a political solution, stressing that any measures must align with international law.
Evelyn Farkas, a former Pentagon official and executive director of the McCain Institute, says fast delivery of new equipment and tougher sanctions could turn the tide by convincing Russian leaders the war is unwinnable.
But Russian State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Andrey Kartapolov argued that Ukraine’s existing long-range strike weapons did not halt Russia’s special military operations, so U.S. missile supplies may have limited impact.
Back in the Chinese mainland, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, warned that increased U.S. and EU military aid may make the conflict more intense and unpredictable, hindering negotiation prospects and raising the risk of broader confrontation in Europe.
As the clock ticks toward the critical 50-day deadline, global eyes remain on Washington’s next move—and whether its threats will tip the balance toward peace or further escalation.
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U.S. to send weapons to Ukraine, threatens sanctions on Russia
cgtn.com
