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This story appeared in The Logoff, a each day e-newsletter that helps you keep knowledgeable in regards to the Trump administration with out letting political information take over your life. Subscribe right here.
Welcome to The Logoff: Donald Trump introduced a brand new plan to get American weapons into Ukrainian palms on Monday, as his persistence with Russian President Vladimir Putin seems to be working more and more skinny.
What simply occurred? Trump stated on Monday that NATO international locations will begin shopping for US weaponry to ship to Ukraine. While the US has been supplying Ukraine instantly, funding appropriated for that objective is on the verge of working out — however Monday’s information ought to preserve weapons flowing to Ukraine.
Trump has stated the deal, which he introduced alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, is already finalized and that weapons can be “quickly distributed to the battlefield.”
What’s the context? This is the second bit of excellent information for Ukraine in as many weeks, after Trump introduced final Monday that he would carry a pause on US deliveries of air protection missiles and different weapons to Ukraine.
It additionally comes as Ukraine faces an ever-greater menace from Russian drones and missiles. The two largest assaults of the struggle, with a whole lot of drones apiece, have struck at Kyiv this month, although Ukraine has been capable of intercept many of the drones.
What else did Trump announce? On Monday, Trump additionally threatened “very severe tariffs” on Russia if the struggle doesn’t finish inside the subsequent 50 days. That’s not more likely to have a lot of an impression, because the US and Russia have a restricted commerce relationship — however Trump stated the US would additionally impose secondary sanctions focusing on international locations that do enterprise with Russia on the 50-day mark, which might have extra chew.
Why is Trump stepping up his help for Ukraine now? Trump’s tone towards Putin has shifted in latest weeks, suggesting he’s more and more pissed off with the continuing struggle and Russian intransigence. Last week, he stated, “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin. … He’s very nice to us all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
And with that, it’s time to log out…
This story from my colleague Benji Jones, about efforts to save lots of the Hickory Nut Gorge inexperienced salamander, is value your time. Benji’s in-the-field reporting in regards to the pure world is unmatched, and this story, from close to Asheville, North Carolina, is not any exception. The salamanders are tiny, visually hanging — and endangered, after their pure habitat was devastated by flooding final yr. Now, scientists are hoping to save lots of the species by establishing a breeding inhabitants in captivity. I hope you give it a learn, and that it conjures up you to take a second and admire how unimaginable nature could be.