Trump says US will supply Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Washington

US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States will send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine to strengthen its defences against Russian attacks.

Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland, Trump explained that the European Union would buy the missiles from the US and deliver them to Ukraine.

“We are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100 per cent for that, and that’s the way we want it,” he said. Trump did not specify how many Patriot systems would be provided.

He also mentioned plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte next week to discuss Ukraine and other security issues.

Trump’s announcement comes days after Washington paused certain arms shipments to Kyiv, surprising Ukrainian officials and raising concerns amid heavy Russian missile and drone strikes.

Recently, Trump said more weapons were needed, calling them “defensive weapons primarily,” and noted that Ukraine has faced severe attacks. “They’re getting hit very, very hard,” he said, while adding he was “not happy” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The pause in military aid had worried Kyiv, which is struggling to defend against some of the most intense attacks since the war began over three years ago.

Trump’s comments followed Russia’s claim of capturing a village in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region earlier this month, marking a new gain in its ongoing offensive.