News Today: Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and unveils Ukraine weapons plan

US President Donald Trump has unveiled a bold new strategy aimed at forcing Russia to negotiate peace in Ukraine, announcing the US will send “top-of-the-line weapons” worth billions of dollars to Kyiv via Nato countries. Simultaneously, Trump threatened Russia with 100% secondary tariffs targeting any country still trading with Moscow if a peace deal is not reached within 50 days.

Speaking alongside Nato chief Mark Rutte in Washington, Trump stressed the urgency: “We want to make sure Ukraine can do what it wants to do.” Rutte confirmed that the US will “massively supply Ukraine with what is necessary through Nato,” while European allies will foot the bill by sending their own Patriot air defence systems, which the US will later replace.

Although neither leader disclosed the full list of weaponry to be sent, Rutte mentioned the deal included “missiles and ammunition.” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked Trump for his “willingness to support Ukraine and to continue working together to stop the killings and establish a lasting and just peace.”

On tariffs, Trump’s threat targets Russia’s trade partners, including large economies like India. For instance, if India continues to buy Russian oil, US companies importing Indian goods would pay a 100% tax, making those products too costly to compete, potentially slashing revenue for India and crippling Russia’s wartime income.

With oil and gas making up over 60% of Russian exports, these tariffs could dent Moscow’s ability to finance its military operations. Yet the Moscow Stock Exchange Index rose sharply, as investors had expected even harsher measures.

Monday’s announcement was the first time Trump pledged new military aid to Ukraine since returning to office. Notably, his tone on Russia has grown harsher, calling Putin “a tough guy” who “fooled a lot of people – Clinton, Bush, Obama, Biden – but not me.”

Despite previous optimism about easily solving the conflict, Trump now appears more focused on real action rather than dialogue. While Russia has not formally responded, some pro-Kremlin voices called the tariffs bluff, suggesting real outcomes could shift within the next 50 days.