U.S. President Donald Trump is set to welcome NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington on Monday, following a strong statement on Russia’s war in Ukraine. Trump, who has been seeking negotiations with Moscow to end the three-year-long conflict, expressed impatience with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the weekend, while also announcing a new supply of weapons for Ukraine.
“We’re going to send them Patriots — they really need them,” Trump said on Sunday, referring to the U.S. air defense system. While he did not specify the number of weapons to be delivered, he said he would be making a “strong statement.” Rutte has arrived in Washington to hold talks with President Trump and other senior U.S. officials on Monday.
Earlier this month, the White House paused a portion of its weapons supply to Kyiv and instead announced a new agreement under which NATO would purchase American arms to send to Ukraine. According to a NATO press release, Rutte is scheduled to remain in Washington through Tuesday and will also meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Rutte’s scheduled Oval Office meeting with President Trump on Monday at 10 a.m. will be closed to the media.
“We are basically sending them various advanced military equipment, and they will pay us 100 percent for it,” Trump said. “This will be a business deal for us,” he added, while reiterating his frustration with Putin.
“Putin has surprised a lot of people. He says the right things during the day and then launches massive shelling in the evening,” Trump said Sunday while returning from the FIFA Club World Cup final in New Jersey. Last week, he accused Putin of spreading “nonsense” about Ukraine to Washington.
Trump, who began his second term in January, had previously said he was willing to work with the Russian leader to end the war in Ukraine swiftly.
However, Russia has been rejecting U.S.- and Ukraine-proposed ceasefire initiatives for several months. Trump has also hinted at his willingness to impose sanctions on Moscow, and momentum is building in the U.S. Congress for a preventive sanctions package.
When asked whether the U.S. would impose tariffs on Russia, Trump responded, “Well, we’ll see what’s necessary tomorrow — and we’ll act accordingly.”
