Trump to help supply missiles for Ukraine in major policy shift
The supplies ultimately bound for Ukraine include missiles and air defense weaponry.
Why it matters: This is a seismic policy shift from Trump, who originally refused to side with Ukraine and until very recently insisted he would only supply defensive weapons so as not to escalate the war.
Driving the news: Speaking at the White House alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump said the U.S. would send "the best" military equipment in the world to NATO allies, with those countries footing the bill.
Rutte said this would allow Ukraine to obtain "massive supplies" of weapons, including air defense and missiles.
While Trump did not provide details about the weapons systems that will be included, he did mention missiles. Two sources told Axios the plan would include long-range missiles that could strike deep inside Russia.
The big picture: U.S., Ukrainian and European officials hope the weapons will shift the trajectory of the war and change Russian President Vladimir Putin's calculations regarding a ceasefire.
The scheme for European countries to pay for U.S.-made weapons that will be sent to Ukraine was proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit two weeks ago.
As Trump grew increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, particularly after their fruitless July 3 phone call, the idea started to turn into a reality.
What to watch: Trump said he would be imposing "very severe tariffs" if there is no deal with Russia in "about 50 days."
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