Strong Europe became the central theme on Monday as President Donald Trump announced a new arms deal with NATO. This deal comes just as he issued a stark warning to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump gave Putin 50 days to reach a peace agreement with Ukraine or face heavy tariffs.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump confirmed the U.S. will sell billions in arms to NATO allies. These allies include Germany, Finland, Denmark, and others. The weapons will be rapidly transferred to Ukraine to bolster its defenses.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte revealed that Trump called him last Thursday. During the call, Trump assured his commitment to the arms deal. Rutte described the move as a “logical step” following last month’s successful NATO summit.
During the summit, most NATO members agreed to increase defense spending to 5% of their GDP. That meeting laid the foundation for this deal, according to Rutte.
“This is really big,” Rutte said while seated next to Trump in the White House. He praised Europe’s unified stance. Countries like Sweden, Norway, Canada, and the Netherlands have already expressed interest in joining the deal.
Rutte also emphasized that this is only the beginning. He mentioned ongoing talks with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Their goal is to balance America’s military stockpile with NATO’s urgent supply needs for Ukraine.
Trump, showing clear frustration, criticized Moscow’s repeated setbacks. He said four peace talks with Putin collapsed due to renewed missile attacks. “The talk doesn’t mean anything,” Trump remarked, reflecting on his phone calls with Putin.
Despite opposition from isolationist Republicans, Trump defended continued aid to Ukraine.
The repeated message was clear: Strong Europe means strong alliances, swift action, and no patience for broken promises.
Trump also hinted at future cooperation beyond weapons. He said the U.S. and NATO could expand intelligence sharing and defense training. According to Trump, Ukraine needs more than arms—it needs strategy, support, and unity from the West. He vowed to keep pressure on Putin and continue strengthening alliances. “We’re not backing down,” Trump said. “We’re standing with our partners, and we’re staying strong.”
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