Ukraine updates: Trump warns Russia of 'very severe tariffs'

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius met with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in Washington, where Pistorius said Germany and the United States would make a decision about sending US-made Patriot missile systems to Ukraine within days or weeks.

Pistorius said Germany was working to take on greater responsibilitt for European defense. 

"We are determined to assume greater responsibility for Europe's deterrence and defense, while recognizing that the contribution of the United States of America remains indispensable to our collective security," he added.

Pistorius also said that Germany has reached out to the US to seek a potential purchase of Typhoon long-range missiles, which could be a quicker solution for Ukraine, as it seeks to repel Russia's continued attacks.

It all comes as Trump announced a plan for European allies to buy US military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine.

The relationship between the US and Russian presidents dates back over a decade, and was cemented during Donald Trump's first term in office.

It has recently shown signs of strain, with Trump growing frustrated about Putin's reluctance to agree to a ceasefire deal with Ukraine. 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has proposed appointing the country's sitting prime minister, Denys Shmyhal, as defense minister, hours after he announced that he had asked Yuliia Svyrydenko to become the new prime minister.

"The vast experience of Denys Shmyhal will certainly be valuable in the position of minister of defense of Ukraine. This is precisely the area where the country's maximum resources, maximum tasks and a great deal of responsibility are currently concentrated," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.

The Ukrainian president said he counted on the parliament's backing for his nominations.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked US President Donald Trump after the latter threatened Russia with tariffs should it not reach a deal to end the war within 50 days.

"I am grateful to President Trump for his readiness to support the protection of our people's lives," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address.

Earlier on Monday, Trump also announced that he was sending weapons to the NATO alliance to arm Ukraine.

President Donald Trump said the US will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine and that they will be paid for by the European Union. During his announcement, Trump expressed his frustration in dealing with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose secondary tariffs of 100% on Russia and countries that trade with it — in an attempt to bring the war in Ukraine to an end. His announcement came during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. 

Speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, US President Donald Trump announced sending weapons to the military alliance to support Ukraine in its war against Russia.

"We're going to make top-of-the-line weapons, and they'll be sent to NATO," Trump said, adding that the cost of the weapons would be covered by the alliance, rather than US taxpayers.

"This is billions of dollars worth of military equipment is going to be purchased from the United States, going to NATO," Trump said. "And that's going to be quickly distributed to the battlefield."

Rutte said Ukraine would get "massive numbers" of weapons under the deal, including Patriot anti-missile batteries.

US President Donald Trump has revealed his awaited "major statement" on Russia, threatening Moscow with "very very severe" tariffs unless a deal to end the war with Ukraine is reached within 50 days.

"We're going to be doing secondary tariffs. If we don't have a deal in 50 days, it's very simple. And they'll be at 100%, and that's the way it is," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Trump made the announcement as he sat side-by-side with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, saying he was very unhappy with Russia.

"I use trade for a lot of things," he added. "But it's great for settling wars."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had asked Yuliia Svyrydenko to become the new prime minister.

Svyrydenko has served as Ukraine's first deputy prime minister and economy minister.

"I have proposed that Yuliia Svyrydenko lead the government of Ukraine and significantly renew its work. I look forward to the presentation of the new government’s action plan in the near future," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

He also mentioned that they discussed concrete measures to boost Ukraine’s economic potential, and that they are initiating a transformation of Ukraine's executive branch to achieve this goal.

Svyrydenko has held her current position since November 2021. Previously, she was the deputy head of Ukraine's presidential office.

Denys Shmyhal is the present Prime Minister. He has been in office since March 2020.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with US President Donald Trump's special envoy Keith Kellogg in Kyiv.

According to a social media post by Zelenskyy, they discussed defense cooperation and sanctions on Russia during a "productive" conversation."

"We discussed the path to peace and what we can practically do together to bring it closer," the Ukrainian leader wrote on X.

"This includes strengthening Ukraine’s air defense, joint production, and procurement of defense weapons in collaboration with Europe. And of course, sanctions against Russia and those who help it," Zelenskyy added.

He thanked Kellogg for visiting Ukraine and Trump for sending important "signals of support." 

The US president is expected to deliver a "major statement... on Russia" on Monday.

During his meeting with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington on Monday, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is set to deliberate the pressing matter of providing Ukraine with Patriot air defense systems.

Berlin has already provided Kyiv with three of the 12 Patriot systems it previously possessed.

"We only have six left in Germany," Pistorius said in an interview with British daily The Financial Times.

The German minister added that at least one Patriot unit was always unavailable due to maintenance or training, and that two others had been lent to Poland.

"That’s really too few, especially considering the NATO capability goals we have to meet. We definitely can’t give any more," Pistorius said.

The minister said he would discuss his proposal from last month with Hegseth for Germany to purchase two Patriot systems from the United States for Ukraine.

During the interview, Pistorius also stated that Germany would not deliver its long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine despite Kyiv's renewed request.

The Kremlin said that US President Donald Trump's remarks about supplying Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine mean that US arms and ammunition deliveries to Kyiv are ongoing.

"Now it seems that these supplies will be paid for by Europe, some will be paid for, some will not," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Trump's announcement.

"The fact remains that the supply of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment from the United States continued and continues to Ukraine," Peskov added.

Peskov said the Kremlin believed that Kyiv was clearly in no hurry for the third round of peace negotiations. He added that Russia was ready for the talks and awaiting clarity on the timing from Ukraine.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on Telegram that Russian forces had taken control of two more Ukrainian villages: Malynivka in the southern Zaporizhzhia region and Maiak in the eastern Donetsk region.

No comment has been issued by Ukrainian authorities as of yet.

Over the summer, Russia escalated its offensive in its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, advancing the front line and launching some of the war's largest missile and drone attacks.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's investment envoy, Kirill Dmitriev, stated that dialogue between Russia and the United States would persist despite seemingly growing tensions between the two powers.

"This dialogue will continue — despite the titanic efforts to disrupt it by all means possible," Dmitriev said in a post on the Telegram messaging app.

The official made the comments after US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Putin over Russia's invasion and announced that the US would send Patriot air defense system missiles to Ukraine.

Trump had made rapproachement with Moscow and a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine a major pillar of his campaign for election as US president, but has in recent weeks increasingly vented his frustration with the apparent lack of progress on peace talks and Russia's continued aerial bombardment of Ukrainian cities.

Trump is expected to deliver a "major statement" on Russia on Monday, having previously hinted he was open to slapping Moscow with further sanctions.

Earlier this year, Dmitriev, the head of Russia's Direct Investment Fund, met with Trump's special envoy, Steven Witkoff, when Witkoff visited Russia. Dmitriev also attended Witkoff's meeting with Putin.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius will meet with US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in Washington.

Security in Europe is likely to be a focus of Monday's talks, given the growing Russian territorial aggression in Ukraine.

The meeting is also expected to center on Berlin's offer to pay for American Patriot air defense systems for Ukraine, a proposal announced by Chancellor Friedrich Merz weeks ago.

On Sunday, US President Donald Trump said he would send Patriot missiles to Ukraine, adding that the EU would reimburse the cost.

Read more about this and other news from Germany in our Germany updates