President Trump on Sunday said that the United States will be sending Patriot air defense munitions to Ukraine, reiterating his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The president wouldn’t say how many Patriot systems or missiles will go to Ukraine but noted the U.S. isn’t going to be paying for the supply.
“I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection, but the European Union is paying for it. We’re not paying anything for it, but we will send it,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews on his return to Washington.
He added, “we will send them Patriots, which they desperately need because Putin has really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening. A little bit of a problem there. I don’t like it.”
He also said he will have a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Monday.
Trump on Thursday said a deal has been struck with NATO to send weapons to Ukraine, with the military alliance bearing the brunt of the cost.
Trump has grown increasingly frustrated with Putin, saying earlier this month after a call with him that the Russian leader has made “no progress” in ending the three-year war in Eastern Europe.
The Defense Department last week halted the delivery of some air defense missiles and munitions to Ukraine, citing concerns about U.S. military stockpiles being depleted. The White House at the time confirmed the decision, saying it was made after a review of the U.S. military’s backing of other nations around the world.
Trump reversed course days later, with the Pentagon saying Tuesday it would send “additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,” citing Trump’s direction for the move.
Trump later told reporters that he didn’t know who approved the weapons shipment halt.
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