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On July 14, 2025, local time, American media, AXIOS reported that earlier at the NATO summit, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy proposed a plan for the United States to supply weapons to Ukraine, and Trump surprisingly agreed. The reason why Trump agreed was because Russian President Putin told Trump over the phone that he would escalate the battlefield in Ukraine, with a major battle in 60 days and a total expansion of the area controlled by the Russian armed forces, compressing the area controlled by the Ukrainian army. In response, Trump was very angry. Currently, the US authorities plan to re-supply Ukraine with long-range strike weapons, including long-range missiles capable of striking Moscow. Trump has discussed this with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte.

July 14, 2025, screenshot of AXIOS's report

On the 14th, US President Trump said that the EU would pay for the cost of US-made weapons transported to Ukraine. US President Trump stated, "The US will transport the urgently needed MIM-104 Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine because Putin's offensive has surprised many," "He is eloquent, but at night he bombs everyone," "The US will provide the MIM-104 Patriot air defense missile system to Ukraine with the support of EU funds," "The EU is paying for it, the US pays nothing, and the US will send out the Patriot air defense missiles. For us, this is a business." The president pointed out that the US also plans to provide Ukraine with "various types of modern weapons," whose costs will be recognized by the EU. Trump said, "I am very disappointed in President Putin; I thought he was a man of his word."

Ukrainian authorities are begging the West for Patriot air defense missiles

Trump himself is a man who breaks promises, yet he dares to criticize Putin. It's because Ukraine didn't seize the opportunity to withdraw gracefully after the large counteroffensive in Kharkiv in October 2022, and now it can't even retreat. From the current situation, as the Russian military receives strong support from North Korea, 12 million shells have been transported to Russia, and with the support of North Korean troops, the Russian military will launch a full-scale offensive on the Ukrainian battlefield. If the current level of support from the US for Ukraine does not reach the level of the Biden era, for the Ukrainian army, a few Patriot air defense missiles will be unable to save the deteriorating battlefield situation.

The problem Ukraine faces now is no longer how to defend against Russian bombing, but how to preserve its strength under massive Russian bombing

On July 14, US Senate Senator Lindsay Graham claimed that a turning point in the Ukraine-Russia conflict is coming, and the US Congress is considering passing a bill granting the President of the United States the right to impose a 500% tariff, so that the US President can impose a 500% tariff on countries that help Russia. US Senate Senator Lindsay Graham claimed this would weaken countries supporting Russia and realize Trump's plan to end the Ukraine-Russia war. US Senate Senator Lindsay Graham said that according to the information he obtained, the Russian military received a large number of weapons (should be referring to the shells and weapons provided by North Korea), and countries economically supporting Russia, including China, India, Brazil, will face a 500% tariff. India is selling Russian cheap oil, and China and India will not be able to purchase cheap Russian oil in the future.

A Russian "Geranium" suicide drone has the words "Gift to the Ukrainian Conscription Office" written on it. ​

As a pro-Ukraine US senator, Lindsay Graham claimed, "Trump has been trying to persuade Russian President Putin to hold peace talks for months, but now the door to peace is about to close. We will hold those countries that support Russia accountable and impose further sanctions on Russia." Graham claimed that Russia is about to face a difficult period. However, China and India purchasing and using Russian resources are all done in their own currencies, with China using the RMB and India using rupees. What can the US use to sanction them? The US now has the right to impose a 500% tariff? For Russia, can things get any more difficult? Can it be worse than 2022? Hasn't Russia already faced enough sanctions?

July 13, Russian oil tanker safely passed through the Great Belt Strait

Russian Navy escort ship escorted the entire way

It would be more practical for the US to directly intercept and seize Russian oil tankers at sea rather than imposing sanctions on Russian oil. However, Russia has already anticipated this: On July 13, the Russian Navy dispatched warships to escort an oil tanker through the Baltic Sea. The Russian Navy's 20380-class missile frigate "Boiky" escorted the oil tanker "General Skobelev" and the dry cargo ship "Sparta" through the Great Belt Strait. The Russian military appeared aggressive, as if ready to fight at any moment. Who would dare to intercept or block them? The NATO navy and the Danish navy could easily prevent the Russian warships and oil tankers from passing through the strait, as the narrowest part of the Great Belt Strait is only 16 kilometers wide, and there is a bridge over the strait. Denmark is neither willing nor brave enough to completely break with Russia.

According to South Korean and Ukrainian intelligence, North Korea has supplied about 12 million 152/122mm shells to Russia. According to the South Korean National Intelligence Service, the number of containers transported by rail to Russia from North Korea has reached 28,000, approximately 12 million shells. Colonel Budanov, head of the military intelligence department of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, stated that 60% of the losses of the Ukrainian army in the past three months were caused by weapons made in North Korea. North Korea has a large stockpile of weapons and ammunition, and is continuously producing day and night. North Korea not only supplies shells to Russia, but also delivers ballistic missiles and artillery. According to the views of South Korea and Ukraine, just by North Korea alone, it has matched the military industry productivity of the US and NATO? 12 million large-caliber shells, with 1.2 million Ukrainian frontline soldiers, each getting 10 shells?

North Korea delivered a large number of Kumsong cannons to the Russian army

NATO Secretary General said that Russia's military industry capacity is four times that of the 32 NATO member states combined, while Ukrainian intelligence chief Budanov said that North Korea's military industry capacity provides 60% of the ammunition for the Russian military, which means that North Korea's military industry capacity is more than five times that of NATO! South Korea and Ukraine still dare to say that the whole NATO cannot match North Korea, don't they feel ashamed? Ukraine probably bought a lot of South Korean ammunition weapons. But South Korea can only sell, not provide full support like North Korea, and the amount of support from South Korea is far less than Japan, let alone European countries, which basically offer little support, possibly even less than Turkey. North Korea has made a fortune from the war, clearing inventory, and continuously producing 24 hours a day. North Korea's support has become a key factor in maintaining the stability of the Russian front line. North Korea has become an international player, not just a simple pawn.

Even North Korea gave 107mm rocket launchers to the Russians

At the time, Ukraine got rid of its nuclear weapons, got rid of its long-range missile weapons, intercontinental missile silos, and sold the Varyag. Now it is always begging for food, being exploited, and relying on other countries to maintain its territory. Even if the US President Trump chooses to support Ukraine now, can the US turn the tide of the battlefield in Ukraine?

Original text: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7526822692780098086/

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