Foreign Policy

Trump Warns Putin: Strike a Ukraine Deal or Face 100% Tariffs in 50 Days

Published

July 14, 2025

President Donald Trump, standing alongside new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, announced a sweeping weapons deal that will supply top-tier American-made arms to NATO countries—without U.S. taxpayers footing the bill.

“We make the best equipment, the best missiles, the best of everything,” Trump said, emphasizing America’s manufacturing strength. “The European nations know that. And we’ve made a deal today… we’re going to be sending them weapons and they’re going be paying for them.”

This deal, the latest in a string of defense alignments, allows the U.S. to manufacture advanced weaponry—including Patriot air-defense systems—and deliver them to NATO partners. Those partners will then send the systems to Ukraine, bolstering its ability to defend against relentless Russian attacks. “We’re not buying it,” Trump made clear. “But we will manufacture it, and they are going to be paying for it.”

“It Wasn’t My War”: Trump Sets the Record Straight on Ukraine

During the announcement, Trump was quick to clarify his position on the ongoing conflict. “We’ve spent $350 billion, approximately, on this war with Russia and Ukraine,” he said. “And we’d like to see it end. It wasn’t my war. It was Biden’s war.”

Trump reiterated that while his administration is supporting Ukraine through NATO, he’s working toward de-escalation. “It’s not my war. I’m trying to get you out of it,” he said, directly addressing the American public and emphasizing his commitment to ending the conflict through diplomatic pressure rather than prolonged funding.

50-Day Ultimatum: Tariffs Loom for Putin and His Allies

In what may become one of the most aggressive economic moves yet, Trump laid out a 50-day deadline for a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. If there’s no resolution, sweeping economic consequences are on the table. “I’m disappointed in President Putin because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago,” Trump stated. “So based on that, we’re going to be doing secondary tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days. It’s very simple. And they’ll be at 100 percent.”

The warning is clear: nations doing business with Russia could soon face punitive tariffs. “It can be more simple, but that’s just the way it is,” Trump said, adding that he hopes diplomacy prevails before the hammer comes down.

Why This Matters for U.S. Voters

This deal positions America as the arsenal of democracy—without dragging its citizens deeper into a foreign war. It ensures Ukraine receives essential support while Europe pays its fair share. The administration’s approach also pressures Russia with real consequences, not just vague threats.

As Trump summarized: “In a nutshell, we’re going to make top-of-the-line weapons… NATO may choose to have certain of them sent to other countries where we can get a little additional speed… mostly in the form of a replacement.”