US president makes announcement amid growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
United States President Donald Trump has announced his intention to send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine in response to his administration’s growing discontent with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to negotiate an end to the invasion of Ukraine.
“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump stated during a recent press conference at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Putin’s actions, stating, “Putin talks nicely and then bombs everyone in the evening. There’s a problem there that I don’t like.”
Trump’s comments follow his recent confirmation of the sale of weapons to NATO allies in Europe, intended to be passed on to Ukraine.
He is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte this week to discuss his plans to supply weapons to Kyiv.
Rutte’s visit to Washington D.C. comes as Trump hints at making a “major statement” on Russia on Monday.
Despite initially campaigning on ending the conflict in Ukraine swiftly, Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin’s refusal to negotiate a peace deal.
In recent remarks, Trump accused Putin of using force against the United States and others, stating, “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Upon returning to the White House in January, Trump began to scale back support for Ukraine, arguing that US aid was straining taxpayers and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of hindering peace efforts.
While Ukraine continued to receive weaponry through previously allocated funds during Joe Biden’s presidency, Trump withheld approval for new arms shipments.
However, after efforts to broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv proved unsuccessful, Trump announced this month that he would start approving shipments of mainly “defensive weapons” to Ukraine.
When asked if his upcoming announcement regarding Russia would include sanctions against Moscow, Trump would not confirm, but emphasized his disappointment in Putin.
“I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was someone who meant what he said. He talks beautifully and then bombs people at night. We don’t like that,” Trump stated.
“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump stated during a recent press conference at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
Trump expressed his dissatisfaction with Putin’s actions, stating, “Putin talks nicely and then bombs everyone in the evening. There’s a problem there that I don’t like.”
Trump’s comments follow his recent confirmation of the sale of weapons to NATO allies in Europe, intended to be passed on to Ukraine.
He is scheduled to meet NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte this week to discuss his plans to supply weapons to Kyiv.
Rutte’s visit to Washington D.C. comes as Trump hints at making a “major statement” on Russia on Monday.
Despite initially campaigning on ending the conflict in Ukraine swiftly, Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin’s refusal to negotiate a peace deal.
In recent remarks, Trump accused Putin of using force against the United States and others, stating, “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Upon returning to the White House in January, Trump began to scale back support for Ukraine, arguing that US aid was straining taxpayers and accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of hindering peace efforts.
While Ukraine continued to receive weaponry through previously allocated funds during Joe Biden’s presidency, Trump withheld approval for new arms shipments.
However, after efforts to broker peace between Moscow and Kyiv proved unsuccessful, Trump announced this month that he would start approving shipments of mainly “defensive weapons” to Ukraine.
When asked if his upcoming announcement regarding Russia would include sanctions against Moscow, Trump would not confirm, but emphasized his disappointment in Putin.
“I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was someone who meant what he said. He talks beautifully and then bombs people at night. We don’t like that,” Trump stated.
