President Donald Trump at the White House ahead of announcing a landmark Ukraine weapons deal, signaling a sharp pivot in U.S. policy with plans to send long-range missiles — a move drawing fierce warnings from Moscow. Image: Getty Images.
(The Post News)– In a dramatic policy turn, US President Donald Trump is expected to unveil a fresh weapons deal for Ukraine on Monday, one that could see long-range American missiles land in Europe’s war zone for the first time, with NATO footing the bill.
Trump’s planned announcement, which will take place during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, marks a clear departure from his earlier stance of limiting US support to defensive equipment. Axios, citing two officials close to the matter, reports that this new package could include offensive weapons with enough range to hit targets deep inside Russia, including Moscow.
The move follows what insiders described as a tense 3 July phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. In the conversation, Putin allegedly threatened a fresh offensive in Ukraine aimed at expanding Russian control. Trump later confided in French President Emmanuel Macron, saying, “He wants all of it,” referring to Ukraine.
Soon after that call, the US president began shifting tone. Speaking to reporters over the weekend, Trump criticized the Russian leader, calling him “crazy” and accusing him of making friendly overtures by day and launching strikes by night. “Putin talks nice, then bombs everyone at night,” he said. “We don’t like that.”
Trump has already committed to sending Ukraine Patriot missile systems, a key part of the country’s air defense. Now, this broader weapons deal, reportedly paid for by European allies, could push things into more dangerous territory. That’s exactly what Russia claims it fears. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of Kremlin-aligned RT, warned on Sunday that if Ukraine receives missiles capable of striking Moscow, it could provoke what she called a “nuclear ultimatum.”
Her comments were echoed and amplified by Russian state TV presenter Vladimir Solovyov and widely shared across pro-war Russian Telegram channels. “The world’s sensitivity is numb,” Simonyan said, referencing recent footage of Tel Aviv burning. “Nothing happened then, and nothing will happen when it’s Moscow. Or so they think.”
Russian outlets like Moskovsky Komsomolets have also suggested that strikes on the capital of a nuclear state might trigger retaliation involving tactical nuclear weapons. One popular channel, Zapisky Veterana, even predicted that NATO-supplied ballistic missiles could hit Russian territory as early as August.
Despite the risks, US Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios the president’s message on Monday will be “very aggressive,” adding that frustration with Putin’s actions had finally tipped the scales. “European countries are going to pay us 100%,” Trump said. “It’s going to be business for us.”
About the Author
