President Donald Trump announced a breakthrough agreement with NATO on Monday, declaring that the United States will supply Ukraine with American-made weapons—but without footing the bill. In a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, Trump revealed that NATO allies would fully finance the shipments, marking a major policy shift from the Biden era.
“We’ve made a deal today where we’re going to be sending them weapons, and they’re going to be paying for them,” Trump said. “The United States will not be having any payment made. We’re not buying it, but we will manufacture it.”
.@POTUS: “We make the best equipment, the best missiles… the European nations know that… We’ve made a deal today where we’re going to be sending them weapons and they’re going to be paying for them. The United States will NOT be having any payment made.” pic.twitter.com/TG2URSC3Ya
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 14, 2025
Trump emphasized that while America produces the world’s best defense equipment, the days of unlimited U.S. spending for foreign wars are over. “We have an ocean separating us,” he added. “We make the best stuff, but we can’t keep doing this — and Biden should’ve done this years ago.”
Rutte applauded the deal, calling it “totally logical” and pointing to strong interest from NATO countries ready to fund the effort. “Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Canada—they all want to be part of this. And this is only the first wave,” he said.
.@SecGenNATO: “You want Ukraine [to have] what it needs … but you want the Europeans to pay for it — which is totally logical.” pic.twitter.com/k2tSUfCGJ4
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 14, 2025
In addition to the weapons agreement, Trump issued a stern warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin. If a peace agreement is not reached within 50 days, Trump said he will impose sweeping 100% “secondary tariffs” on Russia—targeting not only Moscow, but also any nation that continues to do business with the Kremlin, particularly in oil and gas.
“We are very, very unhappy with [Russia], and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days,” Trump said, noting his repeated but fruitless conversations with Putin. “I speak to him a lot about getting this thing done, and I always hang up and say, ‘Well, that was a nice phone call.’ And then missiles launched into Kyiv … strange.”
.@POTUS: “We are very, very unhappy with [Russia], and we’re going to be doing very severe tariffs if we don’t have a deal in 50 days.” pic.twitter.com/hQSTIng1zj
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 14, 2025
Trump’s move comes after two deadly Russian strikes on Ukraine last week, which killed multiple civilians. The new tariffs would add pressure to Moscow while also forcing global powers—including China, India, and Brazil—to choose between doing business with the U.S. or Russia.
Senator Lindsey Graham has introduced a competing bill in Congress that would authorize up to 500% tariffs on nations aiding Putin’s war machine, but Trump’s administration appears set on pursuing its own plan with more presidential control.
In a marked shift from earlier criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Trump praised Ukraine’s resilience and NATO’s renewed sense of purpose.
“I think this is a chance at getting peace,” Trump said. “Europe has a lot of spirit for this war. When I first got involved, I really didn’t think they did, but they do.”
With the new deal, Trump is reshaping NATO’s role, shifting the burden to Europe while reaffirming America’s dominance in global weapons manufacturing—and potentially setting the stage for a diplomatic breakthrough in the conflict.