President Donald Trump has revealed a more strict approach to Russia, and warned that countries that buy Russian oil may face US sanctions if Moscow fails to agree to a peace agreement within 50 days. This shift comes amid the increasing frustration of the ongoing Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities.
Speaking alongside NATO Secretary -General Mark Roti at the White House, Trump announced a new round of weapons for Ukraine, including Patriot Air Defense Systems. He stressed that NATO allies will obtain the arms bill, saying: “We will prepare weapons from the best weapons, and they will be sent to NATO.”
Trump said that some of the 17 Patriot batteries currently designated for other countries can be quickly redirected to Ukraine. “We will get some very soon, within days,” he pointed out that “the arrangement of an international exchange to accelerate the delivery.
In a major escalation, Trump also threatened secondary sanctions – sanctions against countries that continue to buy Russian oil. “We will make a secondary tariff,” he said. “If we do not have a 50 -day deal … they will be 100 %.”
While Western countries have reduced direct financial relations with Russia, they often avoided targeting the third -party buyer of Russian oil. Trump’s move, if it continues, can disrupt global energy flows and strike major importers such as China and India.
The markets in Moscow interacted positively with the period of allowing 50 days, with the spoil recovery and gained shares. “Trump is weak in the market,” said Artum Nikolaev from the investment era investment. “Moscow gave a negotiation runway, and the final dates often extend.”
Trump, who returned to the presidency, has quickly ended the war, repeated repetitions from President Vladimir Putin as a reason for his transformation. “Maybe we had four deals. But every time, the bombs will fall that night,” he said. Despite the repeated initiatives, including direct conversations with Putin, Trump’s suggestion of ceasefire is still unacceptable to Moscow – although Kiev had supported it.
Last week, Trump broadcast his increasing irritation with the Russian leader, saying: “We get a lot of nonsense that Putin gave.”
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Folodimir Zellinski met with Trump envoy, Keith Keel, to discuss strengthening air defenses in Ukraine and cooperation with Europe on weapons production. Soon after their talks, the alarm siren seemed in Kyiv.
In a separate step, Zelenskiy announced the replacement of Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal with his deputy, Yulia Svydenko, as part of what he called a wider executive transformation. SvyDenko, 39, who is an economist and former commercial minister, played a major role in the recent USA negotiations on metal deals.
As the war continues in its fourth year, Russia still controls nearly 20 % of Ukrainian lands and continues to move forward in the east, with no clear signs of decline.
