Trump promises a ‘major statement’ on Russia-Ukraine war as he hosts NATO leader

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte will be in Washington today and tomorrow for talks with President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth as well as members of Congress. Trump said Russian President Vladimir Putin “’talks nice and then he bombs everybody” as he confirmed the U.S. is sending Patriot missiles to Kyiv and plans sell NATO allies weaponry to pass on to Ukraine. Trump has teased a “major statement” on Russia on Monday.

Over the weekend, Trump threatened new 30% tariffs against Mexico and the European Union to be implemented Aug. 1 despite ongoing negotiations. Last week, he also threatened a 35% tax on many Canadian goods and warned of a 50% tax on Brazil in an attempt to impact the criminal trial against former president Jair Bolsonaro.

And a federal judge ordered a halt Friday to indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in seven California counties, including LA, after plaintiffs including two U.S. citizens who were detained, accused the administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people.

Here’s the latest:

The European Union is suspending Monday’s retaliatory tariffs

″This is now the time for negotiations,’′ European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels on Sunday after Trump sent a letter announcing new 30% tariffs on all EU goods starting Aug. 1.

The America’s biggest trading partner and the world’s largest trading bloc had been scheduled to impose ″countermeasures’’ starting Monday at midnight.

″We have always been clear that we prefer a negotiated solution,’′ she said. If they can’t reach a deal, she said that ″we will continue to prepare countermeasures so we are fully prepared.’′

Trump to meet with NATO leader

Mark Rutte, the NATO secretary general, is visiting to meet with Trump. Their meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET in the Oval Office.

Trump is expected to move forward with a plan to sell weapons to European allies who can then transfer the weapons to Ukraine.

The president has grown frustrated with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and has promised a “major statement” on Monday.