President Donald Trump issues Russia 50-day ultimatum, announces weapons deal with NATO to help Ukraine

United States President Donald Trump on Monday issued a 50-day ultimatum to Russia, threatening to impose severe secondary tariffs on the Vladimir Putin-led nation's allies if a peace agreement to end the war in Ukraine is not reached.

While he offered few specifics, Trump emphasised that the proposed tariffs would be designed to pressure countries still conducting business with Russia, further isolating Russia from the global economy.

"It just keeps going on and on and on. Every night, people are dying," said Trump. "I use trade for a lot of things. But it's great for settling wars."

Alongside the tariff threat, Trump also announced the revival of US military support to Ukraine.

Speaking from the Oval Office during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump revealed that European allies would purchase "billions and billions" of dollars' worth of American-made weapons for delivery to Kyiv.

Among the systems to be sent to Kyiv are Patriot air defence missiles, critical to Ukraine's defence against the intensifying Russian drones and ballistic missiles.

Concerns had mounted in recent weeks over President Trump's commitment to supplying arms to Ukraine, especially after the Pentagon temporarily halted deliveries due to fears of depleting US stockpiles.

Trump's latest move marks a clear change in stance. Since returning to the White House, he had maintained that Russia was more willing to negotiate than Ukraine, often faulting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the ongoing conflict.

At one point, he labelled Zelensky a "dictator without elections" and praised Russian President Vladimir Putin's resolve.

However, Moscow's unrelenting strikes on Ukrainian cities, particularly civilian areas in Kyiv, appear to have shifted Trump's position.

In April, he publicly called on Putin to halt the bombardments, and by May, he described him as having "gone crazy."

Meanwhile, Trump's envoy to the region, retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, met with Zelensky in Kyiv on Monday.

Their talks reportedly centred on bolstering Ukraine's air defence capabilities, exploring joint arms production with US allies, and the possibility of tightening sanctions on Russia.

"We hope for the leadership of the United States," Zelenskyy said in a post on Telegram, "because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its ambitions are stopped by force."

According to the United Nations (UN), June recorded the highest number of civilian casualties since the war began, with 232 deaths and over 1,300 people wounded.