U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, marking a sharp turn in his administration’s policy and signaling deepening frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to end the war in Ukraine.
“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump told reporters on Sunday, July 13, at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
While Trump did not specify how many batteries would be delivered, he confirmed that Ukraine will “have some” to enhance protection against continued Russian missile and drone attacks.
The announcement comes after months of mixed signals from the Trump administration. Upon returning to the White House in January, Trump initially scaled back U.S. military support to Ukraine, criticizing aid packages as burdensome to American taxpayers and casting President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as an impediment to peace.
However, facing growing international pressure and escalating violence on the frontlines, Trump appears to have reversed course. Last week, he approved shipments of “defensive weapons” to Ukraine and authorized the sale of U.S. arms to NATO allies, allowing them to transfer weapons to Kyiv.
On Sunday, the U.S. outlet Axios reported that Trump’s upcoming Russia announcement may also include “offensive weapons” for Ukraine.
Trump’s remarks were among his harshest criticisms of Putin to date, signaling an unraveling of the once cautiously optimistic relationship between the two leaders.
“Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice, and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” Trump said.
“I’m very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody who meant what he said… and then he bombs people at night. We don’t like that.”
Trump revealed that Putin had rejected multiple U.S. proposals for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, despite Ukraine’s agreement to the plan. Russia dismissed the offer, arguing it would allow Ukraine time to regroup and rearm.
Trump, who campaigned on promises of ending the war quickly, now finds himself in a complex diplomatic battle, caught between public pressure to support Ukraine and his long-standing aversion to deep U.S. involvement in foreign wars.
Trump is set to meet this week with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington, where discussions are expected to focus on expanded arms support for Ukraine and possible new sanctions against Russia.
When asked if his upcoming announcement would include penalties for Moscow, Trump remained vague but reiterated his disappointment in the Russian leader.
Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has unveiled a bipartisan sanctions bill that would grant Trump sweeping powers to impose up to 500% tariffs on any country supporting Russia’s war effort.
“This congressional package would give President Trump the ability to impose a sledgehammer on Putin’s war machine,” Graham said during an interview on **CBS’s Face the Nation.
The Patriot missile systems are among the most advanced air defense weapons in the U.S. arsenal, capable of intercepting ballistic and cruise missiles. Ukraine has long requested additional systems to defend against intensifying Russian airstrikes, especially in cities and near military installations.
Trump’s renewed military commitment could reshape the balance on the battlefield and revive stalled **U.S.-led peace initiatives, even as critics warn of further escalation with Moscow.
