Trump Said to Send Offensive Weapons to Ukraine in Significant Shift

Trump’s Upcoming Announcement on Support for Ukraine

President Donald Trump is anticipated to unveil a new strategy on Monday aimed at bolstering support for Ukraine, which may include offensive weaponry, according to sources cited by Axios.

This decision further illustrates a shift in the Ukrainian government’s approach, especially after a pause in Trump’s initial approval and the earlier delivery of Patriot missile defense systems to Ukraine. Trump has also voiced public frustration regarding the stagnation of peace negotiations and ongoing military actions alongside Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Axios reports that Trump will share his plans in a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Latte on Monday morning. The proposed shipment might feature long-range missiles capable of striking as far as Moscow, although details were not confirmed.

Trump commented, “Putin really surprised many people. He tells me a good story, but then he bombs everyone in the evening, so there’s a bit of a problem there. I don’t like it,” during a conversation with reporters.

Since the conflict’s onset, Ukraine has received U.S. military aid totaling approximately $66.9 billion, as stated by the State Department.

The shipment of Patriot batteries had initially been paused on July 2, pending a review of U.S. weapon reserves. This reduction in military stockpiles has raised concerns among foreign policy and defense experts. However, on July 7, Trump announced the resumption of missile deliveries, albeit with a smaller number of Patriot batteries than originally intended, which are now priced according to NATO standards.

Interestingly, Trump had expressed some reluctance about sending these systems, telling a close associate that, “This is not my war.”

Meanwhile, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists, with both sides continuing to launch drone and missile strikes. The front lines have stayed relatively stable; prior to Trump’s expected announcement, Russia reportedly deployed 136 drones toward Ukraine, of which Kyiv managed to neutralize 108.