This is reported by Kyiv24
U.S. President Donald Trump emphasized that he has not concluded dialogue with Russian President Vladimir Putin, despite his disappointment with Putin’s actions in the context of the war against Ukraine. Trump made this statement in a telephone interview while commenting on his recent initiatives aimed at ending the armed conflict.
Initiatives for a Peace Agreement and Sanction Pressure
Recently, Trump gave Moscow 50 days to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine, threatening to impose high import tariffs and secondary sanctions against Russia’s trade partners if this demand is not met. He also promised additional arms supplies for the Ukrainian Armed Forces, emphasizing that among the equipment provided will be Patriot air defense systems.
The U.S. President declined to disclose details of his plans for pressure on the Kremlin, limiting himself to the comment:
“We are working on it.”
NATO Assessment and Attitude Towards Allies
During the interview, Trump retracted his previous criticism of NATO as an “outdated” alliance. He noted that after increased funding from European partners, the alliance has become more effective. At a recent summit in The Hague, participants agreed to raise defense spending to 5% of GDP, a demand long made by the U.S. administration.
Trump emphasized that the leaders of Germany, France, and Spain respect his decisions and highlighted the importance of collective security in protecting smaller countries from larger threats.
He also mentioned that the United States is prepared to provide Ukraine with new weapons worth “billions of dollars,” procured by NATO. The U.S. President expressed dissatisfaction with Russia’s policy, which has intensified air attacks on Ukraine, and confirmed his intention to impose 100% secondary tariffs if there is no progress in peace negotiations within the specified timeframe.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) believe that the success of U.S. efforts to compel the Kremlin to negotiate depends on a combination of economic pressure and Western military support, which will allow Ukraine to strengthen its positions on the front lines.