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Donald Trump plans to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, saying they are โdesperatelyโ needed to shield the country from intensifying Russian air strikes.
In his most explicit comments yet about the prospect of sending the sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine, Trump suggested that the European allies would pay for the weapons as he renewed his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
โI havenโt agreed on the number yet, but they are going to have some, because they do need protection,โ Trump told reporters late on Sunday. โBut we will sendโ.โ.โ.โwe will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening.โ
The US-made Patriot systems are some of Washingtonโs most advanced air defence weapons and a key part of Ukraineโs defences against Russian attacks. They are the only air defence weapon in Kyivโs arsenal capable of downing Russiaโs hypersonic ballistic missiles.
Trumpโs comments came ahead of a meeting with Natoโs secretary-general Mark Rutte at the White House on Monday.
Last week, the US president said he would have a โmajor announcementโ to make on Russia on Monday.
Asked on Sunday if he would announce sanctions against Russia on Monday, Trump said: โWe are going to see what we will see tomorrow, OK?โ.โ.โ.โBut I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said.โ
Trump has in recent weeks expressed increasing frustration with Russiaโs intransigence in talks over a possible ceasefire that could pave the way for a longer-term settlement.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has pleaded for months with Trump to sell his war-battered nation 10 Patriot air defence systems and interceptor missiles that can shoot down Russian missiles and drones.
Last week, he said that Kyiv had secured agreements with Germany and Norway for the purchase of three Patriot systems from the US.
Addressing the role of Nato allies in purchasing weapons from the US, Trump said late on Sunday: โWe basically are going to send them various missiles, very sophisticated, military, and they are going to pay us 100 per cent for them, and thatโs the way we want it.โ
Russia has escalated its air war against Ukraine in recent weeks, launching record numbers of Iran-designed suicide drones and cruise and ballistic missiles. The drones have been updated to fly higher and faster, and to carry larger and more destructive explosive payloads.ย
On Sunday, Zelenskyy said he would discuss Ukraineโs needs and its partnership with the US with Keith Kellogg, Trumpโs special envoy for Ukraine. Kellogg arrived on Monday morning in Kyiv and will hold talks with the Ukrainian leader this week about Russian sanctions, arms deliveries and scaling up joint US-Ukraine production of various weapons.
