Trump "disappointed in Russia," says major statement coming soon

US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment over Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and commented on a Senate bill proposing tougher sanctions on Moscow, noting that it would grant the president broad discretion over whether to enforce the measures.

In an interview with NBC News, Trump said he was disappointed in Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine and hinted at further action, Caliber.Az cites.

“I’m disappointed in Russia, but we’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks,” he said. “I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday [July 14],” he added, without providing further details.

The remarks come as Russian forces launched a deadly missile strike on Kyiv this week, in what appeared to be a defiant move against the Trump administration’s latest warnings. Trump has previously expressed disapproval of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s actions.

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has been pushing for months to advance legislation that would introduce new punitive measures against Moscow. Trump confirmed on July 10 that he now supports the bill, along with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.).

“It’s a bill that the Senate is passing that very respectfully lets the president do whatever he wants, as you know,” Trump said. “In other words, it’s at my option if I want to use it. They’re going to pass a very major and very biting sanctions bill, but it’s up to the president as to whether or not he wants to exercise it.”

The proposed legislation would give the White House discretionary authority to enforce stringent new sanctions on Russia in response to its military aggression in Ukraine.

While discussing broader US and NATO support for Ukraine, Trump also revealed the terms of a new arrangement reached during last month’s NATO summit concerning arms deliveries. 

“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” he said. “So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons.”

“We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons,” Trump added. 

This clarification came amid questions over a recent pause in scheduled US arms shipments to Ukraine, reportedly ordered by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The temporary hold appeared to have caught parts of the Trump administration, including the State Department, off guard.

Asked about the matter, Trump responded, “I don’t know anything about it,” but added that Hegseth is “doing a great job.”

The White House has since resumed weapons deliveries.

By Sabina Mammadli