U.S. President Donald Trump announced he will deliver a “major statement” on Russia this coming Monday, potentially signaling a departure from his earlier efforts to end the war in Ukraine and a shift toward greater alignment with former President Joe Biden’s Ukraine policies.
In an interview with NBC News on Thursday, Trump said, "I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday." When asked about recent Russian drone attacks in Ukraine, Trump responded, "You will see things happening," further teasing the significance of his upcoming announcement.
During the same interview, Trump claimed a new agreement had been reached with NATO, under which the U.S. would supply weapons—including Patriot air defense systems—to NATO for redistribution to Ukraine. “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, a hundred percent,” he said.
It remains unclear whether this arrangement will be the focus of Monday’s announcement or if other actions are planned.
Trump recently expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, telling NBC he was “disappointed with Russia” and that “everything I was told by Putin was bullshit.” These remarks followed a phone call between the two leaders on July 3, during which Trump reportedly demanded a ceasefire and warned of further consequences should Russia fail to comply.
The Trump administration had paused shipments of several key weapons systems to Ukraine in late June, including Patriot missiles and artillery shells, citing depleted U.S. stockpiles. However, Trump later reversed the decision and denied having issued the pause order in the first place.
In a related development, reports surfaced Thursday indicating that Trump may invoke his Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to approve a new $300 million weapons package for Ukraine—the first such authorization since he returned to office. The move has yet to be formally confirmed by the administration.
Additionally, Trump appears to be considering support for Senator Lindsey Graham’s proposed “bone-crushing sanctions,” which would impose a 500% tariff on countries purchasing Russian energy. According to sources, the White House is pushing for the legislation to include provisions granting Trump full authority to enact, suspend, or lift the tariffs without congressional approval.
If confirmed, the shift in Trump’s approach to Russia would mark a sharp contrast to his campaign promises to end the Ukraine war and distance the U.S. from the conflict. Such a pivot may prove controversial among his base, which has largely opposed continued military aid to Ukraine.