**US President Trump Calls Out Putin, Commits to Supporting Ukraine**
In a phone interview with the BBC published on July 15, US President Donald Trump expressed his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin but made it clear that he is not done trying to make peace between the two nations. This comes just hours after Trump announced plans to ramp up arms deliveries to Ukraine and impose significant tariffs on Russia if no peace deal is reached.
Trump’s comments were made in the wake of his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, where the two leaders outlined a new joint plan to supply Ukraine with advanced US weaponry. The President said that some Patriot air defense systems and missiles could arrive in Ukraine “within days,” with certain NATO countries agreeing to swap out their systems to expedite delivery.
**A Shift in Trump’s Stance on NATO**
Trump also defended NATO, calling it “the opposite of obsolete” – a stark contrast to his previous criticism of the alliance. In June, during the NATO summit in The Hague, NATO member states agreed to allocate 5% of their gross domestic product annually to defense and security-related expenditures by 2035.
The President now backs a US-led initiative to sell $10 billion worth of advanced weapons to European allies, being the first wave of arms designed to support Ukraine. This package reportedly includes missiles, artillery shells, and air defense systems.
**Ukraine’s Response**
President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the announcements in a phone call with Trump, thanking him for “willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace.” US Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker said that the move sends a clear message to Moscow.
“President Trump is a peacemaker. But if you want war, we will arm Ukraine, and Europe will pay for it,” Whitaker said. “This is a great step in ultimately bringing this war to a conclusion.”
**Potential Consequences**
The Washington Post reported that Trump might also authorize Ukraine to use the 18 ATACMS missiles currently in Ukraine at their full range of 300 kilometers (about 190 miles). He may also allegedly supply more of these missiles. However, claims that Trump considered supplying Ukraine with Tomahawk cruise missiles capable of striking Moscow and St. Petersburg were not independently verified.
**A Call to Action**
According to the Washington Post, Trump asked Zelensky in the recent call why Ukraine had not struck Moscow. “We can if you give us the weapons,” Zelensky reportedly replied. Trump is said to have responded that Ukraine must increase pressure on Putin, not just in Moscow but also in St. Petersburg.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
