Reflecting his “disappointment” with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, US president Donald Trump has thrown his weight behind Ukraine with a commitment of “billions” of dollars of US weapons that he said Europe would pay for. He also pledged to impose “secondary” sanctions of 100 per cent on countries that bought Russian oil and gas, unless Putin agrees to a ceasefire within 50 days.
Trump’s about-turn on Russia was welcomed effusively by Nato secretary general Mark Rutte at a meeting in the White House on Monday. Rutte said it was “completely logical” for Europe to pick up the tab for the weapons, including Patriot air defence missile systems, unspecified long-range missiles and munitions, much of which would be supplied quickly from European stocks and then replenished by the US.
Trump’s commitment to new sanctions on Russia and those trading with it echo provisions in a bipartisan bill before Congress. His insistence that the US will not pay for the weapons will do much to quieten the vocal opposition within his Maga movement to any direct US engagement in the war – and also provide a huge business opportunity for the country’s defence industry.
The Patriot systems are crucial to Ukraine’s air defences against Russia’s increasing use of hypersonic ballistic missiles in attacks on Kyiv and other cities. Long-range missiles will give the Ukrainians an enhanced ability to strike weapons factories and storage facilities deep inside Russia.
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In recent weeks, Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with his Russian counterpart over the lack of progress on a ceasefire, which he had promised to broker during his presidential campaign. Exasperated with the Russian president’s continued refusal to contemplate an unconditional ceasefire and the escalation of Russian bombing, he told reporters last week that it was necessary to bolster Ukraine’s defences and resumed the delivery of US weapons to the country that had been temporarily paused.
“Putin really surprised a lot of people,” the US president said, explaining his volte face. But the only one surprised by his intransigence was Trump himself – although no-one yesterday was going to point that out. Praise for his wisdom and enlightened insight was the order of the day from the Nato chief, who listened straight-faced as Trump boasted of his diplomatic achievements.
Europeans and other western allies will take comfort from the reality that Trump’s new policy appears to return the US to the common front against Russia that Joe Biden had forged, and to the US traditional commitment to Nato. Although Trump has yet to recognise the justice of Ukraine’s demand for the full restoration of its territory and seems to be motivated, in part at least, by pique over Putin’s tactics, this latest move is an important step in the right direction.
