Trump says US will send Ukraine Patriot air defence systems
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The delivery will be part of a new deal, which will involve Nato paying the US for some of the weapons, says President Donald Trump.
PHOTO: EPA
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JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland – US President Donald Trump has said Washington would send Patriot air defence systems to Kyiv and hinted at new sanctions on Russia, once again voicing displeasure with Russian leader Vladimir Putin over Moscow’s war in Ukraine.
The US leader’s announcement of the much-needed weapons for Ukraine came after he said he would make a “major statement... on Russia” on July 14.
The announcement could come amid a diplomatic flurry set for July 14, with the US special envoy starting his latest trip to Ukraine and Mr Trump set to meet with Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Washington.
Moscow’s offensive on Ukraine has lasted for more than three years, with attacks intensifying this summer and US-led negotiations so far yielding no results to end the fighting.
“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Mr Trump said on July 13, without specifying how many weapons he would send to Ukraine.
“I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection,” he told reporters at Joint Base Andrews, as he returned from watching the Fifa Club World Cup final in New Jersey.
The White House has U-turned from an announcement earlier in July that it would pause some arms deliveries to Kyiv, instead announcing a new deal which would involve Nato paying the US for some of the weapons it sends to Ukraine.
“We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military (equipment) and they’re going to pay us 100 per cent for them,” Mr Trump said.
“It’ll be business for us,” he added.
Mr Rutte’s 10am (10pm Singapore time) Oval Office meeting will be closed to media, and he is slated to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio as well.
Earlier this week, President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine was “close to reaching a multi-level agreement on new Patriot systems and missiles for them”.
Mr Trump also repeated that he was “disappointed” in Mr Putin, as he grows increasingly exasperated with the Russian leader.
“Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” said the disgruntled Mr Trump on July 13.
Last week, Mr Trump accused Mr Putin of throwing “bullshit” at Washington on Ukraine – openly frustrated with the seeming impasse.
When he first returned to the White House in January, Mr Trump insisted he could work with the Russian leader to end the war, holding off on hiking sanctions unlike European allies.
But Russia has for months refused a ceasefire proposed by the US and Kyiv.
Mr Trump has repeatedly voiced displeasure with Mr Putin in recent days, and on July 13 hinted he might finally be ready to toughen sanctions as momentum grows for a deterrent package in Congress.
When asked about whether he would announce any sanctions against Russia, Mr Trump said “we’re going to see what we will see tomorrow” and repeated plans to meet Mr Rutte.
‘Sledgehammer’
Earlier on July 13, US senators touted a bipartisan Bill that would arm Mr Trump with “sledgehammer” sanctions to use against Russia.
It “would give President Trump the ability to impose 500 per cent tariffs on any country that helps Russia,” said Mr Graham, adding that those could include nations that purchase Russian goods like China, India or Brazil.
“This is truly a sledgehammer available to President Trump to end this war,” said Mr Graham.
“Without a doubt, this is exactly the kind of leverage that can bring peace closer and make sure diplomacy is not empty,” Mr Zelensky said about the proposed Bill in an X post.
Mr Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal were also due to meet Mr Rutte on July 14 night. Mr Blumenthal told CBS news they would also discuss the legally thorny issue of unlocking frozen Russian assets in Europe and the US for access by Ukraine.
“The US$5 billion that the United States has also could be accessed, and I think it’s time to do it,” said Mr Blumenthal. AFP
