U.S. President Donald Trump has announced a fresh shipment of advanced weaponry to Ukraine and warned that nations purchasing Russian oil could face strict sanctions if Russia fails to agree to a peace deal within 50 days.
Standing beside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump expressed dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of not following through on previous peace talks.
“We’re preparing highly advanced weapons, and they’ll be delivered to NATO. Some countries will send their Patriot systems, which we’ll replace later,” Trump told reporters. The Patriot missile defense systems are seen as crucial for protecting Ukrainian cities from frequent Russian air attacks.
Trump mentioned that up to 17 Patriot batteries, initially ordered by other countries, may be redirected to Ukraine in the coming days. NATO members will reportedly cover the cost of this aid.
In addition to the military support, Trump announced plans for secondary sanctions and 100% tariffs on Russian goods. These measures would also target countries like China and India if they continue to import Russian oil.
A U.S. official later confirmed that the 50-day grace period aims to give room for negotiations, but if no deal is reached, tough economic actions will follow.
Markets in Russia initially dipped but recovered quickly, as analysts suggested that Trump’s delayed deadline provides Moscow with time to reconsider.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy met with Trump’s envoy, Keith Kellogg, to discuss strengthening Ukraine’s air defense and exploring joint weapons production with European partners. An air-raid alert was issued in Kyiv shortly after their meeting.
Zelenskiy also announced the replacement of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal with his deputy, Yulia Svyrydenko. A trained economist, Svyrydenko has been involved in strategic economic discussions with Washington and now awaits parliamentary confirmation.
Despite multiple diplomatic efforts, Russia continues its military advances and currently controls about one-fifth of Ukrainian territory.
