Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump.Image: keystone
April 1, 2026, 9:47 p.mApril 1, 2026, 9:55 p.m
US President Donald Trump is toughening his tone towards his European allies. According to a report by the Financial Times He is threatening to end arms aid to Ukraine in order to force support in the conflict with Iran. The British daily newspaper got its information from people who were informed about the relevant discussions.
It’s about the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran. Trump is calling on the NATO navies to form a “coalition of the willing” to reopen the strait by force. European capitals have so far rejected this, citing the high risk of escalation during the ongoing conflict.
According to insiders, Trump responded with a massive threat: He wanted to stop deliveries to “Purl” – the central NATO initiative to procure weapons for Ukraine.
As soon as “the fighting is over”
When asked about Donald Trump’s anger at the reticence of NATO partners, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte avoided directly confirming the US threats. Instead, he told the Financial Times he was confident: He was firmly convinced that the allies would, as always, do everything necessary to support common interests.
Mark Rutte is a Dutch politician and NATO Secretary General since October 2024.Image: keystone
He had to get the Europeans to agree to the joint statement of March 19 in order to prevent Trump’s threatened withdrawal from Ukraine aid and the “PURL” initiative at the last moment. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Wednesday he would hold talks this week between the 35 signatory states about forming a coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz once “the fighting has ended.”
Trump accused the Europeans of relying on the US to protect them from Russia, but in return not providing any support in the fight against Iran. He told Reuters that he would “definitely” discuss leaving NATO in a TV speech on Wednesday evening (local time).
The “Pac-3” interceptor missiles, which are important for Ukraine, are currently increasingly being used by the USA and the Gulf states. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio did not rule out the possibility that weapons could be diverted in the future because “America comes first.” (val)