❓WHAT HAPPENED: President Donald J. Trump announced that the United States will resume sending defensive weapons to Ukraine, reversing a recent pause in shipments.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Pentagon officials, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Announcement made on July 7, following escalating Russian attacks on Ukraine.
💬KEY QUOTE: “They’re getting hit very hard now,” said Trump, speaking from the White House.
🎯IMPACT: The resumption of defensive aid could increase pressure on Russia’s President Putin to renew peace negotiations with Ukraine; however, the move could also be seen as a reescalation and further prolong the conflict.
The Pentagon announced on Monday that it will resume sending defensive weapons to Ukraine at the request of President Donald J. Trump. This decision reverses a prior move to pause air defense shipments that were already en route to Ukraine.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated that the weapons would “ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure that the killing stops.” President Trump, speaking alongside U.S. and Israeli delegations at the White House, emphasized the need for Ukraine to be able to defend itself against escalating Russian air attacks. “They’re getting hit very hard now,” Trump said, adding that he was “disappointed, frankly, that President Putin hasn’t stopped.”
Following a July 3 phone call between Trump and Putin, Russian forces launched what Ukrainian officials described as the largest airstrikes since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The Ukrainian air force reported over 539 drones and 11 missiles during the attacks, marking a record high.
In addition to the renewed flow of military aid, President Trump continues to float the possibility of imposing additional sanctions on Russia. Additionally, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) is pushing legislation in the U.S. Senate that would hit countries purchasing Russian oil with a 500 percent tariff—though it remains unclear just what level of support the South Carolina Republican has among his colleagues for the measure.
Ukraine’s reliance on air defense systems supplied by Western allies, including the Patriot missile system, has grown as Russian attacks intensify. Ukrainian officials were surprised when the Pentagon initially paused shipments of critical munitions, citing concerns that America’s stockpiles had been run down. However, the decision to resume aid follows a productive July 4 phone call between President Zelensky and President Trump. Zelensky described the conversation as “the best in all this time” and expressed gratitude for U.S. support in addressing air defense needs.
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