President Donald Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte unveiled a new initiative Monday to channel U.S. weapons to Ukraine through NATO member countries, in a move aimed at stepping up pressure on Russia to end its war in Ukraine.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump said the U.S. is prepared to impose 100% tariffs on Russia and introduce “secondary tariffs” on nations that continue buying Russian energy if Moscow does not agree to a peace deal within 50 days.
“We’re very, very unhappy with them,” Trump told reporters. “And we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days. Tariffs at about 100 per cent — you’d call them secondary tariffs.”
The joint announcement with Rutte marks a significant escalation in Trump’s approach to Russia, combining economic pressure with a coordinated NATO-backed military supply chain for Ukraine.
Weapons Flow Through NATO
The new framework, confirmed by the White House, will ensure that U.S. weapons reach Ukraine via NATO allies — streamlining logistics and reinforcing Western military support amid stalled negotiations with Moscow.
Trump emphasized the plan’s goal of pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to come to the table. “I’m disappointed in President Putin, because I thought we would have had a deal two months ago,” he said.
Tougher Tariffs and Secondary Sanctions
According to senior officials, Trump’s proposed 100% tariffs on Russian goods would be “biting” and “powerful.” He also warned that countries continuing to do energy business with Russia — including India and China — could face steep secondary sanctions.
This follows mounting support in the Senate for the proposed Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, which would slap up to 500% tariffs on nations importing Russian fossil fuels. India, the second-largest importer of Russian energy as of May 2025, purchased over €4.2 billion worth — mostly crude oil — according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
India in the Crosshairs — But Waivers Possible
While Trump has expressed support for the Senate bill, he also signaled openness to using its waiver provisions, allowing the president to exempt certain countries temporarily. India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar confirmed earlier this month that the Indian Embassy in Washington is in talks with Senator Lindsey Graham, a key Trump ally and co-sponsor of the sanctions bill.
Trump’s comments and the new weapons channel via NATO come amid renewed scrutiny of Russia’s tactics and growing bipartisan pressure in Congress to tighten the economic noose around Moscow.
