Trump Warns of Potential Sanctions on Russia in 50 Days, Unveils New Weapons Support for Ukraine

Share this @internewscast.com

Key Points

Donald Trump has unveiled new arms support for Ukraine.
Trump announced US will sanction purchasers of Russian goods.
A potential 100 per cent tariff on Russia is being considered by the White House.

President Donald Trump of the United States has declared new weaponry for Ukraine and warned of sanctions on those buying Russian exports unless Russia consents to a peace accord. This marks a significant shift in policy, spurred by frustration over Russia’s continuous aggressions towards its neighboring country.

However, the sanctions threat came with a 50-day period before enforcement, which was a relief to Russian investors, enhancing the rouble and boosting stock markets.

While seated with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, Trump conveyed to reporters his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin and stated that extensive US military support would be directed to Ukraine.

“We’re producing high-quality armaments for NATO,” Trump mentioned, highlighting that NATO allies would foot the bill.

This military aid includes the much-requested Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine.

“It’s a full complement with the batteries,” Trump said. “We’re going to have some come very soon, within days … a couple of the countries that have Patriots are going to swap over and will replace the Patriots with the ones they have.”

Some or all of 17 Patriot batteries ordered by other countries could be sent to Ukraine “very quickly”, he said.

Rutte said Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Canada all wanted to be a part of rearming Ukraine.

Trump’s threat to impose so-called secondary sanctions on Russia, if carried out, would be a major shift in Western sanctions policy.

Politicians from both US political parties are pushing for a bill that would authorise such measures, targeting other countries that buy Russian oil.

Throughout the more than three-year-long war, Western countries have cut most of their own financial ties to Russia, but have held back from taking steps that would restrict Russia from selling its oil elsewhere.

That has allowed Russia to continue earning hundreds of billions of dollars from shipping oil to buyers such as China and India.

“We’re going to be doing secondary tariffs,” Trump said. “If we don’t have a deal in 50 days, it’s very simple, and they’ll be at 100 per cent.”

A White House official said Trump was referring to 100 per cent tariffs on Russian goods as well as secondary sanctions on other countries that buy its exports.

A significant number of US senators, 85 out of 100, are backing a proposal empowering Trump to impose 500 per cent tariffs on nations aiding Russia. Nevertheless, the chamber’s Republican leaders are awaiting Trump’s approval to initiate a vote.

Since returning to the White House, promising a quick end to the war, Trump has sought rapprochement with Russia, speaking several times with Putin.

His administration has pulled back from pro-Ukrainian policies such as backing Ukraine’s membership in NATO and demanding Russia withdraw from all Ukrainian territory.

But Putin has yet to accept a proposal from Trump for an unconditional ceasefire, which was quickly endorsed by Ukraine.

Recent days have witnessed Russia use hundreds of drones to attack Ukrainian cities.

Trump attributed the policy shift to his dissatisfaction with Putin, who speaks of peace yet continues to target Ukrainian cities. “I wouldn’t call him an assassin, though he is quite formidable,” he added.

Two men shake hands in front of Ukrainian flags, one wearing all black and the other in a suit.

Russia fired 10 times more drones and missiles in June than in the same month in 2024, the UN said. Source: AAP / Presidential Press Service of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held talks with Trump’s envoy Keith Kellogg on Tuesday AEST.

Zelenskyy said they discussed “the path to peace and what we can practically do together to bring it closer”, including “strengthening Ukraine’s air defence, joint production and procurement of defence weapons in collaboration with Europe”.

An air-raid alert was declared in Kyiv shortly after Zelenskyy’s talks with Kellogg.