Keystone-SDA
Donald Trump, whose patience with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin seems to be at the end, gave Russia 50 days to put an end to the war in Ukraine under penalty of severe sanctions, and announced a massive reset of kyiv through NATO.
(Keystone-ATS) “I am disappointed with President Putin, because I thought we would have an agreement two months ago, but that does not seem to materialize,” the American president at the White House, alongside the NATO secretary general, Mark Rutte, said on Monday, adding that “we will set up secondary customs duties”, that is to say on the Allies of Moscow.
“If we do not have an agreement within 50 days, it’s very simple, (customs duties) will be 100% and that’s how it is,” he added.
In a first reaction, the head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas judged in Brussels that this period represents a “very long” duration.
At the same time, Ukraine will receive a huge amount of weapons to strengthen its war effort against Russia.
“It is a very big deal that we have concluded. Military equipment worth several billion dollars will be purchased in the United States, go to NATO, etc. And will be quickly distributed on the battlefield, “said the American president, stressing that this will not cost a penny in the United States.
He said in particular that Patriot’s anti -aircraft defense systems were going to be provided to Ukraine “in the coming days”.
“This means that Ukraine will get their hands on a very large number of military equipment, both for air defense, but also missiles, ammunition,” said NATO secretary general.
” Oh really ? »»
The American president had recently multiplied the contradictory signals on Ukraine, the Pentagon even deciding a break in the delivery of weapons to kyiv.
But Monday, Donald Trump clearly expressed his impatience, repeating that he was “dissatisfied” by Putin.
“We thought we had an agreement about four times”, but each time the Russian president continued to bomb Ukraine, “he said, telling an exchange with First Lady Melania Trump.
“I go home and say to the First Lady: ‘I spoke to Vladimir today, we had a wonderful conversation’. And she replied: ‘Oh really? Another city has just been struck ‘”.
Vladimir Putin refuses to end the invasion of Ukraine started in February 2022.
After his return to the White House in January, Donald Trump tried to get closer to the Russian leader, and to negotiate with him an end of the war.
But the diplomatic process is deadlocked after sessions of unsuccessful talks between Moscow and kyiv.
“Better late than never”
In eastern Ukraine, where the fighting is raging, soldier Adistron, 29, said he was “very happy” that his country soon receives more patriot systems, according to him to protect civilians, but also troops.
“Without them, we are helpless,” he told AFP. “So, Mr. Trump, give us more, more patriot”.
Another 29 -year -old soldier, who calls himself Grizzly, judges that “better late than ever”. “Thanks to the patriots they give us, our families will be more safe,” he said.
Russian air strikes in Ukraine have recently intensified. Moscow beats records in number of vehicles drawn every week, supplied by a defense industry that runs at full speed.
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that he had mentioned his country’s defense assistance during a “productive conversation” with American special envoy Kellogg, visiting kyiv.
The Ukrainian president said he was “grateful” to his American counterpart for “important signs of support and positive decisions for our two countries”.
On the Ukrainian front, the Moscow army remains to the advantage.
The Russian Defense Ministry still claimed on Monday taking two small Ukrainian villages: Maïak, in the eastern region of Donetsk and Malynivka, in that of Zaporijjia (South).
Attacks killed at least three civilians on Monday in the regions of Kharkiv and Soumy, both borders of Russia and located in northeast Ukraine, according to local authorities.
Volodymyr Zelensky also proposed Monday to appoint Prime Minister his current Minister of the Economy, Ioulia Svyrydenko, which would constitute a major political reshuffle for this country at war.