Trump Announces U.S. Missile Support for Ukraine, Threatens 100% Tariffs on Russia Over Ongoing War

(The Post News)- CNN’s Chief International Security Correspondent, Nick Paton, describes the missile announcement by the United States (US) President Donald Trump as providing relief to Ukraine. On Monday, 14 July, Trump threatened to impose strict trading restrictions on Russia and to provide Ukraine with weapons if Russia does not end its war with Ukraine.

Trump has given Russia 50 days to end the war. He says he had peace agreements four times with Russia; however, Russia never honoured the agreements.

Trump’s announcement unveiled U.S. missile shipments to European countries, which will be transferred to Ukraine. The missile shipment decision is amongst other issues that have been at the centre of discussions since Trump won elections last year.

Responding to what Trump had to say, Paton says Trump’s announcements are “far from the biggest announcement the US president could have made”. He says No matter what the final details of NATO’s weapons deal are, it’s exactly what Trump called for recently—and exactly what Ukraine needs.

Paton says Russia attacks Ukraine almost every night, and only U.S. Patriot missiles can stop them. He noted how Ukraine needs the missiles, saying that they never had enough. He believes that the U.S. might also provide Ukraine with advanced weapons, although Trump did not specify how advanced the weapons to be sent to Ukraine are.

Trump says he will impose 100% tariffs on Russia on what he termed “secondary tariffs”. Explaining secondary tariffs to CNN, a White House official says this means the U.S. will impose 100% trade tariffs on Russia and secondary sanctions on countries that buy oil from Russia.
Meanwhile, Paton says the secondary tariffs would be difficult sanctions on Russia. He says the sanctions outlined in a U.S. Senate bill possibly increasing tariffs by 500% on all trade with countries that purchase Russian oil and gas would have had severe and damaging consequences.
Although Russia might be the only country to be faced with 100% trade tariffs, it is not the only country to be faced with tariffs by the U.S. Earlier this month, Trump announced that South Africa will be faced with 30% tariffs.