Ukrainians welcome US aid but see Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Putin as
too long
[July 15, 2025]
By VASILISA STEPANENKO and LORNE COOK
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainians welcomed President Donald Trump’s pledge
of more U.S.-made weapons in their fight against Russia’s invasion, even
though it is unclear what exactly they will get and how quickly.
The time frame for further arms deliveries that European countries have
agreed to pay for is crucial.
Russia is making a summer push to break through along the
1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line, and its drones and missiles are
hammering Ukrainian cities more than at any time in the past three
years.
Ukrainian officials have made no direct comment about Trump's decision
to allow Russia 50 days to reach a deal to end the war, or face what he
said would be “very severe” economic sanctions. While some believe
strict tariffs on Moscow could be a game changer, the postponement until
September struck others as being too long.
For Russia, Trump's delay of new sanctions is a reprieve. Senior Russian
lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev commented: “Oh, how much can change both on
the battlefield and with the mood of those leading the U.S. and NATO in
50 days.”
Russian state television pointed out that Trump’s decision would bring a
bigger financial burden for Europe.
Russia currently holds about 20% of Ukraine. Ukraine's depleted army has
recently been losing more territory, but there is no sign of a looming
collapse on the front line, analysts say.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he spoke to Trump after the
Republican leader’s Oval Office announcement Monday, expressing
gratitude for the decision to send more Patriot air defense missiles
that are vital to defend Ukrainian cities.
“We discussed … the necessary measures and decisions to provide greater
protection for people from Russian attacks and strengthen our
positions,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. “We agreed to talk more often
and coordinate our steps in the future.”
Trump and Zelenskyy have had a notoriously fraught relationship, and
Washington’s consent to providing more weaponry has eased Kyiv’s
worries.
Even so, some Ukrainians felt the U.S. decision won’t alter the course
of the war.
“If we take the situation as a whole, it hardly looks like this will
fundamentally change anything,” Kyiv resident Oles Oliinyk, 33, told The
Associated Press.
Nina Tokar, 70, was also skeptical. “I have very little faith in
(Trump). He says one thing today, and tomorrow he may say something
else.”
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In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service,
firefighters put out the fire of a city hospital following a Russian
attack in Sumy region, Ukraine, Tuesday, July 15, 2025. (Ukrainian
Emergency Service via AP)
A Ukrainian army officer fighting in Ukraine’s northeastern Kharkiv
region said the 50-day delay on sanctions “is a very long time.”
“They (the Russians) will say, ‘Give us two more weeks,’ and then in
two weeks, ‘Give us another week.’ It will drag on until October or
November,” he told AP, using only the call sign “Cat” in keeping
with the rules of the Ukrainian military.
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp agreed. “I do believe that
the 50 days that Mr Trump has announced is rather long. It’s up to
September 2. I think that’s rather long.”
Much remains to be worked out about how the weapons, especially the
Patriot systems, will be provided, Denmark’s Foreign Minister Lars
Løkke Rasmussen said in Brussels on Tuesday.
But, in an indication that Europe is relieved that the U.S. hasn't
walked away from the conflict, he added: “The most important thing
is that we now have an American readiness to deliver these most
needed weapons.”
Some European countries, such as Hungary and Slovakia, still rely
heavily on Russia for energy supplies and could be hit hard by
Trump’s threatened secondary sanctions on countries that buy its oil
and gas — an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy.
Lithuania's Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys said Trump’s 50-day
delay was a “signal for Europe to prepare ourselves, because we
still have some member states that are exposed to imports of oil and
oil products from Russia.”
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said it remains to be seen
whether Trump’s announcement will be a turnaround but “what is
decisive is that the tone has changed.” The president's threat to
impose sanctions after 50 days is “significant progress,” Pistorius
told ARD television.
___
Cook reported from Brussels.
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