NATO Secretary Mark Rutte said the new flow of arms form the U.S. to Ukraine will be ‘massive’ as Donald Trump strikes a new hardline with Putin.
Rutte outlined a new package in an exclusive talk with the Daily Mail, explaining plans to channel lethal weapons to Ukraine. This is aimed at helping Ukraine defend itself against ongoing Russian drone and missile attacks through a new financing proposal.
The former Dutch Prime Minister is in discussions with lawmakers who are still evaluating President Donald Trump’s unexpected change of stance regarding Ukraine. Despite exerting new pressure on Moscow, Trump maintains that American taxpayers have shouldered too much of the financial burden and has avoided openly supporting any side in the conflict.
‘How do you say it in English? Infinite – it’s not finite,’ Rutte told the Daily Mail between meetings in the Senate.
“These packages are intended to ensure that Ukrainians receive the resources they need,” Rutte stated. “This must be balanced with what the US can provide, as we also have to maintain enough equipment here for our own defense.”
‘But this is potentially massive. And not only air defense, it is also missiles and ammunition,’ he added.
He stressed that the proposal is designed to make sure that ‘you have enough in stock for yourself,’ amid concerns among top Pentagon officials who ordered a temporary pause to aid while it assessed U.S. stockpiles.
He said the ‘potentially massive air defense, plus missiles and ammunition’ packages still had to be arranged at the granular level.
‘But NATO is good at this, because we have designed these packages over three and a half years now with Ukrainian.’
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (C) told the Daily Mail new U.S. arms packages for Ukraine financed by Europe will be ‘potentially massive. And not only air defense, it is also missiles and ammunition’
Rutte spoke a day after meeting with Trump in the office. The president deferred to Rutte in response to a question by the Daily Mail about whether there was a ceiling on what the Europeans are willing to meet.
‘It’s not that you can have a shopping list and you can order whatever you want, because the U.S. has to make sure that the U.S. keeps his hands on what US needs also to keep the whole world safe. Because in the end, you are the police agent of the whole world.’
He brought up Germany and other major NATO allies ‘talking about big numbers.’
‘They are really enthusiastic about this. They’re willing to go very far, I will tell you,’ Trump added.
As he left the White House today, Trump denied a key element of Financial Times report that Trump had a fiery conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky July 4 where he encouraged the Ukrainian to strike deep inside Russian territory.
Trump said he’ll be imposing ‘very, very powerful’ secondary tariffs on Russia in 50 days
President Trump announced plans to send Ukraine additional Patriot missiles through NATO
Rutte has earned plaudits from Trump by advancing his demand that NATO allies commit to spending 5 percent of GDP on defense
‘Volodymyr, can you hit Moscow? . . . Can you hit St Petersburg too?’ Trump asked his counterpart, according to the report.
Asked if Zelensky should target Moscow, Trump replied: ‘No, he shouldn’t target Moscow.’
Trump defended his latest statements toward Russia – that he will impose ‘secondary tariffs’ after 50 days if there is no deal with Moscow.
‘What we decided is us making up its stockpiles available for Ukraine, paid for better Europeans, in a way, of course, that you have enough in stock for yourself.
Potentially massive air defense, plus missiles and ammunition. But of course, all the details now will be work through.
