Trump criticizes Putin, backs NATO arms deal

President Donald Trump says he may make a significant announcement regarding Russia, following growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

(CNN)- President Donald Trump says he may make a significant announcement regarding Russia, following growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hosting NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today, Trump appeared to signal a shift in tone—moving closer to NATO and further away from the Kremlin.

“I am very disappointed with President Putin,” Trump said. “I thought he was somebody that meant what he said, and he’ll talk so beautifully, and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that.” Trump also revealed that he has reached a deal to send weapons to Ukraine, with NATO covering the costs and overseeing distribution. Analysts say the move could mark a turning point in the ongoing war.“Once the Ukrainians have the ability to bring the fighting to Russia in real and sustained ways, Putin will have questions to answer to his own people,” said former CIA analyst and operations officer David Gioe.

Meanwhile, a bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing a related bill that would allow Trump to impose a 500 percent tariff on imports from countries that continue buying Russian uranium, oil, and gas. “A turning point regarding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is coming,” said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Trump’s remarks also come just five months after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Washington. A White House official says that during a tense Oval Office meeting, Trump abruptly asked Zelenskyy to leave early.