U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will significantly ramp up the supply of advanced weaponry to Ukraine if Russia fails to enter peace negotiations within 50 days, marking a sharp escalation in Washington’s stance on the prolonged war in Eastern Europe.
Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday, Trump declared that European allies are now coordinating with the U.S. to deliver “billions and billions of dollars” worth of American-made arms to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense systems.
“We are prepared to deliver more weapons than ever before,” Trump said. “Putin needs to understand—we will not stand by while missiles rain down on civilians.”
The move comes as Ukraine suffers some of the deadliest Russian attacks since the start of the invasion, with major cities like Kyiv under near-constant bombardment. Drone and missile strikes in June alone caused record civilian casualties and overwhelmed Ukraine’s defense systems.
“We’ll introduce very severe secondary tariffs,” Trump said. “If Putin doesn’t come to the table within 50 days, the cost for him—and his partners—will be enormous.”
Trump threatens Russia not only with an expanded military response, but also with sweeping economic consequences. He announced plans for secondary tariffs targeting nations that continue to do business with Moscow.
Although Trump previously criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for not initiating talks earlier, his rhetoric has recently shifted toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump threatens Russia by portraying the arms delivery as both a deterrent and a message of strength, warning that continued aggression will be met with overwhelming force.
In Kyiv, Trump’s envoy, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, met with Zelenskyy to reaffirm the U.S. position. The Ukrainian leader welcomed the renewed backing and called for even more robust air defense support.
“We hope for U.S. leadership,” Zelenskyy said, “because Moscow’s aggression will not end unless confronted with strength.”
This is the second time in a month that Trump threatens Russia with a combined diplomatic and military strategy, aligning more closely with NATO’s approach. Still, analysts warn that increased militarization could either pressure Moscow into talks—or deepen the conflict further.
