United States President Donald Trump has announced plans to send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, marking a significant shift in his administration’s stance on military aid to Kyiv.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews on Sunday, Trump said Ukraine “desperately” needed the Patriots, adding, “We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need. They’re going to have some because they do need protection.”
The announcement comes as Trump’s administration increasingly signals discontent with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unwillingness to negotiate a ceasefire. “Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening. So, there’s a little bit of a problem there. I don’t like it,” Trump said.
While the US president did not disclose the number of Patriot batteries to be sent, his remarks mark a departure from his earlier reluctance to approve new arms shipments to Ukraine. Following his return to the White House in January, Trump had scaled back direct support for Kyiv, labelling military aid a “drain” on US taxpayers and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of obstructing peace efforts.
Over the past months, the Trump administration had limited assistance to pre-approved defence packages sanctioned under former President Joe Biden. However, the decision to resume arms shipments was made on July 7, with a focus on what Trump called “defensive weapons”.
The development comes ahead of Trump’s scheduled meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte later this week in Washington, where the focus is expected to be the Ukraine conflict and NATO’s defence posture. Rutte’s visit coincides with Trump’s anticipated “major statement” on Russia, which he is set to make on Monday.
US news outlet Axios, citing two unnamed sources, reported on Sunday that Trump’s upcoming announcement could include provision of “offensive weapons” to Ukraine.
While Trump campaigned on a pledge to end the war in Ukraine swiftly, recent comments reflect his growing frustration with Moscow. Last week, he accused Putin of giving false reassurances, stating, “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Despite several short pauses in fighting agreed to by Moscow, the Kremlin has rejected US proposals for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire. Russia has claimed such a pause would allow Ukraine to regroup and rearm, a view not shared by Washington and Kyiv.
On Sunday, when asked whether new sanctions on Moscow would be part of his Monday announcement, Trump declined to comment but reiterated his disappointment with the Russian president. “I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said,” he said.
Earlier in the day, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham introduced a bipartisan sanctions proposal that would grant the president sweeping powers to penalise countries aiding Russia’s military efforts. “This congressional package would give President Trump the ability to impose 500 percent tariffs on any country that helps Russia and props up Putin’s war machine,” Graham told CBS News. “He can dial it up or down… He has maximum flexibility.”
