President Trump Says US Will Send More Weapons To Ukraine

Illustration of Patriot missile defense system. (Wikimedia Commons/Lance Cpl. Alyssa Chuluda)

JAKARTA - President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States would send more weapons to Ukraine, especially defense weapons, to help the war-torn country defend itself in line with the increase in Russian attacks.

Washington's decision to stop some shipments of weapons to Kyiv prompted it to warn it would hinder its ability to fend off Russian airstrikes and progress on the battlefield, drawing criticism from Democrats and some Trump's Republican counterparts.

"We will send more weapons. We have to do it. They must be able to defend themselves," President Trump told reporters at the White House at the start of the dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"They are being hit very hard right now," he continued.

"We have to send more weapons, especially defense weapons," said President Trump.

Meanwhile, the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) said in a statement it would send additional defense weapons to Ukraine at the direction of President Trump, to ensure Ukraine could defend itself while efforts continue to be made to secure lasting peace.

However, the Pentagon said its initiative to evaluate military shipments around the world remained in effect.

Last Friday, President Trump told reporters that Ukraine would need Patriot missiles to defend itself. However, he did not mention it again specifically on Monday. Pentagon statement did not provide details about the weapons to be sent to Ukraine.

After a phone call with President Trump on Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had agreed to work to increase Kyiv's ability to "maintain the sky" as Russian attacks escalated.

"The leaders have discussed joint defense production, purchases, and investments," he added.

Ukraine has asked Washington to sell more Patriot missiles and systems that it considers the key to defending its cities from increasingly intensive Russian airstrikes.