United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to sell military equipment to NATO to help Ukraine, he said at a press conference with the alliance’s Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on 14 July.
“We are going to build the most advanced weapons, and they will be sent to NATO,” he said.
Trump said he was “not happy” with Russia’s policy, which has recently stepped up air attacks on Ukraine.
“Predominantly (killed – ed.) military, but many people in cities and villages are also hit by bombing. This is a terrible war and it must stop. If it doesn’t and we don’t have a deal within 50 days, that’s what we will do – secondary duties. I hope we don’t get to that point, but I hear so much talk,” the US president said.
Trump said the US plans to impose 100 per cent secondary duties if a peace agreement is not reached within 50 days.
He said a “grand bargain” had been reached with Rutte: “billions of dollars worth of military equipment will be purchased from the USA and sent to NATO. It will be quickly sent to the battlefield.”
The US president expressed the view that Ukraine would not have stood a chance at the outbreak of a full-scale war if it were not for Western military aid.
“They are brave because somebody had to use this equipment. They fought and continue to fight very bravely. But they’re losing in equipment and Russia is really very much … what they’ve been doing the last couple of weeks,” he added, referring to Russian air attacks on Ukrainian regions.
Trump previously said the weapons he would provide to Ukraine would include Patriot air defence batteries, among others. Trump said European countries would pay for the supplies.