Donald Trump has stated the US will ship extra weapons to Ukraine after an announcement final week that Washington would halt some shipments of important arms to Kyiv.
Throughout a gathering with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated he was “not joyful” with Russia’s Vladimir Putin and that Ukraine was “getting hit very exhausting”.
Trump additionally indicated the US would ship primarily “defensive weapons” to assist Ukraine’s battle effort.
Among the many armaments reported to have been positioned on pause final week have been Patriot air defence missiles and precision artillery shells. Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky had appealed for the shipments to proceed, describing US Patriot techniques as “actual protectors of life”.
The White Home stated final week the choice had been made “to place America’s pursuits first” in response to a defence division evaluate of army help to different nations.
Trump’s obvious change of coronary heart got here after days of lethal Russian drone and missile barrages on Ukrainian cities, together with the capital Kyiv. One assault on the town final Thursday has claimed a 3rd life, in response to native officers.
Trump stated late on Monday that Kyiv wanted to have the ability to defend itself.
“We will ship some extra weapons. We have now to… They’re getting hit very exhausting now,” he stated throughout a information convention with Netanyahu.
“I am disenchanted that President Putin has not stopped,” he added.
The Pentagon responded with a brief statement, saying that “at President Trump’s path, the Division of Protection is sending further defensive weapons to Ukraine to make sure the Ukrainians can defend themselves whereas we work to safe a long-lasting peace and make sure the killing stops”.
After per week of uncertainty, the US transfer will come as a reduction to Ukraine, says the BBC’s Paul Adams in Kyiv.
Kyiv had warned that the transfer to pause some shipments would impede its capacity to defend towards escalating airstrikes and Russian advances on the entrance strains.
Zelensky stated late final week that he had spoken to Trump “about alternatives in air defence and agreed that we are going to work collectively to strengthen safety of our skies”.
The battle in Ukraine has been raging for greater than three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Ceasefire talks have additionally largely stalled after a number of makes an attempt by Trump to dealer a deal between the 2 events.
Following a name with Putin final week, Trump stated that “no progress” to finish the battle had been made, including “I do not suppose he is trying to cease”.
Hours after the decision, Ukraine stated Russia fired a record 539 drones and 11 missiles concentrating on Kyiv, but in addition hitting the areas of Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk and Chernihiv.
Zelensky has known as on worldwide allies – notably the US – to extend strain on Moscow and impose better sanctions.
