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    Trump warns Russia of steep tariffs, announces new arms deal for Ukraine

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    President Donald Trump on Monday warned that his administration would impose severe tariffs on Russia if the war in Ukraine is not resolved within 50 days, signaling growing frustration with Moscow’s intransigence.

    Speaking during a meeting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said the tariffs could reach 100 percent, though he did not give details about how they would be enforced.

    “We’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days. We’re very unhappy with Russia, and we’ll be doing very severe tariffs … at about 100 percent. I use trade for a lot of things, but it’s great for settling wars.” Trump said.

    The U.S. president, who has repeatedly expressed disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s handling of the conflict, did not hold back in his criticism.

    “I am very disappointed with President Putin,” Trump expressed. “I thought he was somebody that meant what he said. And he’ll talk so beautifully and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that.”

    He also revealed a new agreement struck with NATO earlier in the day, under which the alliance will fund U.S.-supplied weapons destined for Ukraine.

    “We made a deal today where we will be sending weapons to (Ukraine) and NATO will be paying for it,” Trump said at a White House press conference, confirming that advanced systems, including Patriot air defense batteries, would be part of the package.

    Last week, Trump announced Washington would begin supplying more sophisticated military equipment to Kyiv through NATO channels — a shift in U.S. policy as Russia intensifies missile and drone strikes in Ukraine’s now four-year-old war.

    The Patriot missile system, capable of detecting and intercepting high-end ballistic threats, is among the weapons Ukraine is expected to receive.

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking at the Ukraine Recovery Conference in Rome on Thursday, said Germany had agreed to pay for two Patriot systems while Norway pledged to supply another. Other European partners, he added, have also signaled readiness to contribute.

    Trump, noting that the U.S. has already spent $250 billion on the war effort, said he was hopeful that pressure on Moscow would bring about a peace deal soon.

    “I thought we’d have a deal two months ago,” he said, adding that he remains disappointed in Putin for what he called “throwing bulls**t” at Washington during negotiations.

    Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv earlier Monday, as speculation grows over whether the administration’s tougher posture could finally move the needle on ending the conflict.

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