U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a 50-day deadline to Russian President Vladimir Putin to bring an end to the war in Ukraine. Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump expressed strong disappointment with Moscow and warned of severe consequences if no peace agreement is reached within the specified timeframe.

New Tariff Threats and NATO Coordination

President Trump threatened to introduce new tariffs against Russia should the conflict continue beyond the 50-day window. He clarified that such tariffs could be implemented without requiring approval from either the House of Representatives or the Senate. When asked about the possibility of 500% tariffs, Trump responded that “the number doesn’t matter after a point,” suggesting that a 100% tariff would be enough to make an impact.

U.S. President Donald Trump, flanked by Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth meets with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, where President Trump announces a deal to send U.S. weapons to Ukraine through NATO, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., July 14, 2025. REUTERS/Nathan Howard TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

The U.S. President also emphasized America’s military capabilities, stating that the country produces “the best equipment, the best missiles, the best of everything.” He announced that a significant quantity of advanced weaponry would be sent to NATO, which would then oversee its distribution to where it is most needed — including Ukraine.

“We will build top-quality weapons and send them to NATO,” Trump said, adding that NATO would then handle the deployment logistics.

Support for Ukraine Confirmed

Trump confirmed a major military aid package for Ukraine, following a previous announcement made the day before. Speaking to reporters gathered at the Air Force One runway, he said, “Basically, we’re going to send various pieces of very advanced military equipment to Ukraine.”

This marks one of the largest military support efforts for Ukraine under Trump’s leadership, as he seeks to assert a tougher stance on Russia.

Putin Could Have Been Stopped, Trump Claims

“Peace to the world”, a painting created by Russian artist Alexei Sergienko showing a combination of faces of Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, is on display at the Sergienko’s gallery in St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, March 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

President Trump reiterated his belief that the Russian invasion of Ukraine would not have occurred if he had been in office in 2022. He claimed that he had frequent discussions with President Putin and foresaw the conflict before it erupted. “Everything is just talk until missiles are launched at Kyiv,” he said. “This must stop.”

He also recalled nearly reaching an agreement with Russia on multiple occasions, saying, “I felt we had a deal about four times. And here we are, still talking.”

Trump acknowledged the human toll of the war, stating that many Russian and Ukrainian soldiers continue to die as the conflict drags on.

Mixed Reactions from Europe

European diplomatic leaders reacted to Trump’s ultimatum. Kaja Kallas, head of European diplomacy, welcomed Trump’s firm stance on Russia but expressed concern about the length of the proposed timeline.

“It’s very positive that President Trump is adopting a tough position against Russia. On the other hand, 50 days is a long time when innocent civilians are dying every day,” Kallas told reporters.

The meeting at the White House was held behind closed doors, with Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio also in attendance.