President Trump is rewriting the rules on Ukraine. Instead of direct aid, he’s using NATO as the conduit. Weapons will be sold to allied countries. They will transfer the equipment to Ukraine. No congressional gridlock. No waiting on procurement. The arms move faster and the taxpayers stay untouched.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte arrived in Washington for closed-door talks. Meetings included President Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and key senators. Lindsey Graham is backing legislation that targets Russian oil revenue. The proposal hits importers of Russian crude with 500% tariffs. China and India are in the crosshairs. Together, they account for 70% of Russia’s oil exports.
Trump confirmed the first batch of hardware. Several hundred JASSM-ER missiles are being prepared for transfer. These extended-range cruise missiles can reach targets 1,000 kilometers away. Ukraine will deploy them from F-16s that Trump plans to include in the initial weapons package. The missiles are capable of hitting production sites in Moscow and St. Petersburg. These cities house the infrastructure behind Russia’s long-range arsenal.
If Moscow refuses to engage, phase two begins. Ukraine will be supplied with Tomahawk missiles and mobile launch platforms. These weapons can hit targets several thousand kilometers away. Focus shifts to the Urals. Yekaterinburg and Chelyabinsk are home to armored vehicle manufacturing and strategic military facilities. The idea is to take out the backbone, not the surface.
Trump made clear that nuclear weapons are off the table. Everything short of that is being considered. Congress may unlock frozen Russian assets and repurpose leftover drawdown funding. The sanctions bill carries bipartisan support. Trump is asking for full control over waivers and enforcement. Graham says the president will have the tools to turn off the oil.
This isn’t a gesture. It’s leverage. Ukraine gets teeth. NATO shares the load. Russia watches the lines shift.
Sources
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-nato-secretary-general-mark-rutte-meeting-ukraine-russia/
https://www.kyivpost.com/post/51417
https://globalnews.ca/news/11286944/trump-rutte-to-meet-ukraine-weapons-sales/
