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Donald Trump plans to send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, saying they are “desperately” 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.
“I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they are going to have some, because they do need protection,” Trump told reporters late on Sunday. “But we will send . . . we 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.”
The US-made Patriot systems are some of Washington’s most advanced air defence weapons and a key part of Ukraine’s defences against Russian attacks. They are the only air defence weapon in Kyiv’s arsenal capable of downing Russia’s hypersonic ballistic missiles.
Trump’s comments came ahead of a meeting with Nato’s secretary-general Mark Rutte at the White House on Monday.
Last week, the US president said he would have a “major announcement” to make on Russia on Monday.
Asked on Sunday if he would announce sanctions against Russia on Monday, Trump said: “We are going to see what we will see tomorrow, OK? . . . But I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said.”
Trump has in recent weeks expressed increasing frustration with Russia’s 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: “We basically are going to send them various missiles, very sophisticated, military, and they are going to pay us 100 per cent for them, and that’s the way we want it.”
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.
On Sunday, Zelenskyy said he would discuss Ukraine’s needs and its partnership with the US with Keith Kellogg, Trump’s 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.