NATO's European countries are to send their own air defense systems to Ukraine and buy new ones from the USA, according to President Donald Trump.
We want to make sure that Ukraine can do what they want, said Trump after meeting NATO's Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Monday.
If no peace agreement is reached within 50 days, extremely tough tariffs will be imposed on Russia and its trading partners, according to Trump.
”Pressed by the EU”
Russia "needs time" to respond to Trump's ultimatum, the Kremlin announced on Tuesday. According to the headquarters' spokesperson Dmitrij Peskov, the country is however ready for new talks with Kyiv.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergej Lavrov says that Russia needs to "understand" what Trump means.
– Trump is under undue pressure from the EU and the current leadership in NATO, which in a dirty way supports Zelenskyj's demands and continues to pour advanced weapons over him, said Lavrov in connection with a meeting in China, according to the Russian news agency Tass.
Lavrov adds that Russia "can handle new sanctions", and that the sanctions will hit the countries that stand behind them.
Criticizes deadline
Trump's message is indeed an American U-turn, many analysts believe. But at the same time, the deadline of 50 days is being criticized.
Many had hoped for immediate "second-hand tariffs" on Russian goods and energy. Such tariffs would mean that American companies that trade with, for example, China and India – which buy oil from Russia – would have to pay a hefty customs fee, which would likely make them look for other alternatives, which in the long run could lead to Russia losing its buyers.
Trump is also notorious for setting deadlines that he then does not follow up on, notes The New York Times.
