The President of the United States has tough words – for Russia. “We are very unhappy, I am, with Russia,” he said on July 14. In the wake of his frustration, President Trump has given Putin an ultimatum – come to a deal to end the war in 50 days, or face 100% tariffs.
Losing Patience with Putin
The increased pressure on Russia is a change of tone for President Trump, who has refrained from harsh criticism of Putin as he tries to strike a deal. Now, after months of stalled talks, Trump said he’s ‘disappointed’ with the Russian president. “I thought we had a deal done four times, and then you go home and you see he just attacked a nursing home,” Trump told BBC.
“I think we’re at turning point in Trump’s foreign policy that many of us have been waiting for,” said Dr. Daniel Kempton, professor emeritus of Political Science at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Kempton, however, does not think the threat of tariffs will hurt Russia’s economy because the US does not import a lot of Russian goods – only $3 billion worth last year.
NATO Arms Deal
The bigger news, Kempton told Drew Mariani, is Trump’s arms deal with NATO. Last week, President Trump told NBC News that he reached a deal to sell NATO American arms, which NATO in turn will give to Ukraine. This policy marks a shift from President Biden’s approach to the war when the US gave the Ukrainians direct aid. Kempton believes that the NATO arms deal, combined with the mineral rights deal the US signed with Ukraine in April, is good for the United States. “It’s a much better deal for us,” Kempton told Drew.
Despite selling arms to NATO, Trump insists he’s not on Ukraine’s side, “I’m on nobody’s side,” he told reporters on July 15, “I’m on humanity’s side.”
Pope Leo XIV
During his new pontificate, the Holy Father has called for peace in Ukraine, and has offered the Vatican as a site for talks.
On July 9th, Pope Leo welcomed Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the papal summer residence Castel Gandolfo. The Holy See Press Office said the two leaders discussed, “urgent need for a just and lasting peace” and that dialogue is the “preferred means of ending hostilities.”