Washington, D.C. — In a sharp policy reversal, President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, just weeks after the White House signaled it would pause certain arms shipments to Kyiv.
Speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews after attending the FIFA Club World Cup final, Trump said Ukraine “desperately needs” the Patriots. “We will send them Patriots,” he stated, though he did not disclose how many systems would be provided. “I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection.”
The move comes ahead of a major diplomatic week. Trump is expected to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday, the same day a U.S. special envoy begins a fresh round of talks in Ukraine. Trump has also teased a “major statement on Russia” for Monday.
The announcement marks a reversal from earlier this month when the administration said it would temporarily halt some weapons shipments to Ukraine. Under the revised plan, Trump said, Ukraine—and possibly NATO—would pay the U.S. for the defense systems. “We’re basically going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military, and they’re going to pay us 100 percent for them,” he explained. “It’ll be business for us.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said his country is nearing a deal for more Patriot systems and compatible missiles.
Trump again voiced frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, criticizing what he called the Kremlin leader’s duplicity. “Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” he said.
While Trump initially held back from imposing tough sanctions on Russia upon returning to office in January—citing hopes he could negotiate an end to the war—he has grown more vocal in recent weeks about his disappointment with Putin, especially as Russia continues rejecting ceasefire proposals.
When asked if new sanctions were imminent, Trump replied cryptically, “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow, OK?” and noted his upcoming meeting with Rutte.
Bipartisan Push for Sanctions Gains Momentum
Earlier Sunday, U.S. senators unveiled a bipartisan proposal that would grant Trump sweeping new authority to impose severe sanctions on Russia and nations aiding its war effort.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told CBS News that the bill would give Trump the power to impose tariffs of up to 500% on countries supporting Russia’s economy—including major buyers of Russian goods like China, India, and Brazil. “This is truly a sledgehammer available to President Trump to end this war,” Graham said.
Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, who is co-sponsoring the measure, added that the bill would also enable the U.S. to unlock frozen Russian assets, including $5 billion currently held in American institutions.
President Zelensky welcomed the legislation, calling it a powerful tool to strengthen diplomacy. “Without a doubt, this is exactly the kind of leverage that can bring peace closer,” he wrote on X.
Both Graham and Blumenthal are scheduled to meet NATO’s Rutte in Washington on Monday night to further discuss defense cooperation and financial mechanisms to support Ukraine.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has now entered its fourth year, with renewed attacks and little progress on diplomatic fronts.
