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President Trump is providing fresh support for Ukraine and hardening his position on Russia in an effort to force Moscow to end its war by September.

Trump's announcement Monday of sending more American weapons to Ukraine and his threat to hit Russia's trading partners with 100 percent tariffs are aimed at securing peace within 50 days, he said.

The weapons the U.S. would sell to NATO, which would then be passed to Ukraine, include Patriot missile systems — critical defensive weaponry for Kyiv to ward off increased Russian air attacks.

The president insisted during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte that Europe would pay for the arms, but didn’t drill down on details. He suggested the weapons could move quickly to Kyiv. The deal comes after NATO nations agreed to ramp up defense spending.

Since the start of the war in 2022, Washington has committed more than $175 billion in aid for Ukraine, most under the Biden administration. In Trump’s second term, the U.S. briefly paused intelligence sharing with Ukraine and last month halted the delivery of defensive weapons to Kyiv.

Trump has oscillated between praising Ukraine and its president, Volodymyr Zelensky, and calling him “ungrateful” for U.S. assistance during a February White House meeting. But more recently he has stepped up his rhetoric targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The president had more harsh words for Putin on Monday, accusing him of stringing along multiple American administrations and failing to be serious about ending the war in Ukraine, which is now in its third year.

“I always hang up and say … 'Well that was a nice phone call,' and then missiles launch into Kyiv or some other city,” Trump said. “That happens three or four times, you realize the talk doesn’t mean anything.”

"I don’t want to say he’s an assassin, but he’s a tough guy," he said of Putin.

Accusing Putin of engaging in double-dealing or disingenuousness has become more of a centerpiece of Trump’s rhetoric recently, The Hill’s Niall Stanage writes in The Memo. But the question remains of how meaningful Trump’s shift will be — and how long his staunch support for Ukraine will last.

Trump told the BBC in an interview published Tuesday he is "disappointed" in Putin, "but I'm not done with him. But I'm disappointed in him."

Asked whether he trusts the Russian leader, Trump said: "I trust almost no one."

IN KYIV, Zelensky on Monday met with Keith Kellogg, Trump’s special envoy for Ukraine. Zelensky said in a statement that he is “grateful to President Trump for the important signals of support and the positive decisions for both our countries. We deeply value the support of the American people.”

▪ The Hill: Here’s what to know about the Ukraine weapons deal.

▪ The New York Times: Trump’s willingness to arm Ukraine puts him closer to former President Biden’s approach.

▪ The Times: Doubts and missing details clouded Trump's tough talk on Russia.

UKRAINE HAWKS IN THE GOP cheered Trump’s Monday announcements, with Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) calling the weapons and sanctions threats against Moscow a “turning point” in the war.

But the president's MAGA base might not be as enthusiastic. Trump is already dealing with fallout from his core supporters over his administration’s handling of the Justice Department and FBI’s Jeffrey Epstein memo (more on that below), and it remains to be seen how the GOP’s isolationist wing will react to tough moves to support Ukraine.

▪ The Associated Press: In his own words: Trump’s evolving rhetoric about Russia and Ukraine and their respective presidents.

ON CAPITOL HILL, senators are pushing even further. A bipartisan bill that would implement 500 percent tariffs on Russia and its economic partners currently has 85 co-sponsors. Trump discussed the bill Monday with Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) at the White House.

“I’m not sure we need it, but it’s certainly good they’re doing it,” Trump said.

The Senate bill, as well as the secondary tariffs Trump announced if Russia doesn't agree to a ceasefire within two months, both threaten Russia's already weak economy. The president cast the tariffs as "severe."

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chair of the country’s Security Council, dismissed Trump's tariff threats in an

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