WASHINGTON, D.C. - A new weapons deal for Ukraine could put the pressure on Russia to end their war in Ukraine. The former Ambassador to Poland explains the weapons deal is significant in many ways, including Europe building up their defense capabilities. 

“We're going to make top of the line weapons and they'll be sent to NATO,” President Trump announced in the Oval Office with the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. He said NATO allies will buy patriot missile defense systems and other weapons for Ukraine. This announcement is his most significant move yet to support Ukraine in their years long war with Russia.  

“I thought it was a very significant meeting that President Trump and Secretary General Rutte had yesterday and the live conversation where President Trump said some very important things including that a strong Europe is a good thing and that Ukraine has fought with such courage,” said former Ambassador to Poland Paul Jones. Jones is also a fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis. “Those are really important foundations. A strong Europe is a good thing for the United States.” 

Former Ambassador Jones said the President has wanted Europe to play a bigger role in their security. He expects the US to reduce their forces in Europe under the Trump administration.  

"He will reduce US forces in Europe with the intent that Europe will take a greater responsibility for its own defense,” said Jones. “Ukraine is essential to that and I think that's not always appreciated in our own discussions and our own debate here in the United States. Ukraine has almost a million people under arms now. During the course of this war they have supercharged their defense industrial base and now they are producing and they have the capability to producing far more, but for the whole defense of Europe, for Europe to be strong and for US forces at an appropriate pace of decline, Ukraine's participation of that is essential.” 

The President also threatened Russia if they can’t reach a ceasefire agreement within the next 50 days, he would impose one-hundred percent tariffs on Russia. The former Ambassador believes Russia is still determined to take control of Ukraine.  

“For what’s next is unclear,” said the Ambassador. “The process of ending the war will continue but that requires some cooperation from President Putin which doesn’t seem certain in the near term.”