US-NATO weapons deal threatens Russian economy

President Trump has pledged to sell billions of dollars of US military equipment to NATO, who will then deliver the weapons to Ukraine. 

Ukraine is set to receive 17 Patriot missile defence systems under the deal. Ukraine is only currently known to have 6 Patriot missile defence systems. 

President Trump has also threatened to further sanction Russia in 50 days if steps toward ending the war aren’t taken, proposing to install 100% tariffs on Russian exports, as well as 100% tariffs on countries who buy goods, such as oil, from Russia. 

In spite of these measures, experts are skeptical of this deal’s capacity to broker a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. There is concern that Trump is not intending to follow through with his strict economic threats, and that if implemented, the economic fallout would exacerbate tensions between the US, China and India. 

Image: Image: Shutterstock

Produced By: George Pople

Featured In Story: Associate Professor Alexey Muraviev – Curtin University

First aired on The Wire, Wednesday 16 July 2025