(TSN): During a Monday meeting in the Oval Office, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed that European nations will finance a large-scale weapons package for Ukraine, with the equipment being delivered through NATO channels. This follows President Trump’s ultimatum to Russia: end the war in Ukraine within 50 days or face 100% “secondary tariffs” on trade.
Key Points from Rutte’s Remarks:
- The U.S. will supply weapons to NATO, which will then transfer them to Ukraine.
- European countries—including Germany, Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the UK, the Netherlands, and Canada—have committed to funding the effort.
- The weapons will include air defense systems, missiles, and ammunition, tailored to Ukraine’s battlefield needs.
- The U.S. will maintain its own defense stockpiles and not bear the financial burden of the aid.
Rutte emphasized that this builds on the momentum of the recent NATO Summit, where allies pledged to increase defense spending to 5% of GDP and boost industrial production.
Rutte called the move “really big” and praised Trump’s decision to shift the financial responsibility to Europe, saying it was “totally logical.” He also suggested that the announcement should prompt Russian President Vladimir Putin to take peace negotiations more seriously, while calling it “great news” for Ukraine.