Trump, Ukraine
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Some conservative members of Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" movement have reacted angrily to the president's plans to sell weapons to Nato, arguing it is a betrayal of his promise to end US involvement in foreign wars.
Trump said the United States would put secondary tariffs on countries that do business with Russia if a peace deal is not reached in 50 days.
Trump agrees to sell billions in U.S. arms to NATO countries including Germany, Finland and Denmark and others for quick distribution to Ukraine, following his ultimatum to Putin on peace talks.
Trump also revealed that Putin had recently offered to assist in mediating between Israel and Iran during their brief June conflict — an offer he declined. “I said, ‘No, no, you help me get a settlement with you, with Russia,’” Trump recounted. “And I think we're going to be doing that too.”
Though endlessly critical of his predecessor, President Trump has adopted a Ukraine strategy similar to that of former President Joe Biden: Arm the Ukrainians to the teeth and threaten Russian President Vladimir Putin with even more sanctions if he does not agree to a peace deal.
President Trump on Monday said NATO countries would buy weapons from the U.S. to send to Ukraine for its war against Russia.
The president said in a meeting with NATO’s leader that Kyiv will have new weapons and air defenses within days under the agreement.
After European leaders stepped up military spending, President Trump aligned himself more closely with them on the war. But his tariffs threats have left bruises.
The reshuffle came just as Trump announced a new program to sell weapons to Ukraine in his most forceful declaration of support for Kyiv to date.
As Trump promises more weapons and threatens economic pressure on Moscow, WSJ’s Ukraine Bureau Chief James Marson explains what is at stake for Kyiv in the face of increasing Russian attacks.