Trump's New Decision on Ukraine
On Sunday, July 13, US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would provide Ukraine with Patriot missile defense systems. This marks a significant change in the policy of his administration, which had previously halted new arms shipments since the start of his second term.
Speaking to reporters at Andrews Air Force Base, Trump confirmed the decision, stating, «We are not paying anything for them. But we will provide them with the Patriots they desperately need.»
He added that while the exact number had not been finalized, they would receive the systems because they required protection, and the European Union would be covering the costs.
Trump emphasized the critical importance of the Patriot systems without specifying how many would be sent, reiterating that Ukraine «will pay us 100 percent for them.»
The president directly linked this decision to the ongoing military aggression from Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin, stating, «Because Putin has really surprised a lot of people... He says nice things, and then in the evening bombs everyone, but there’s a little problem with that. I don’t like it.»
When asked about his anticipated announcement regarding sanctions on Russia, Trump replied, «We’ll see what happens tomorrow.» The decision to provide Patriots signifies a notable shift in Trump’s approach, who had previously focused on convincing Putin to come to the negotiating table.
Trump also confirmed a forthcoming meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
A senior administration official told the Kyiv Post earlier on Sunday that the meeting is expected to continue discussions on coordinating aid to Ukraine and broader regional security issues.
