Trump says U.S. will resume sending weapons to Ukraine after pausing last week

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Alex Brandon/AP KYIV, Ukraine — The Pentagon mentioned on Monday that it'll ship extra defensive weapons to Ukraine on the request of President Trump, reversing a Pentagon choice per week in the past to pause air protection shipments already en path to the Ukrainian navy.

In a press release, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell mentioned the weapons would "make sure the Ukrainians can defend themselves whereas we work to safe an enduring peace and make sure that the killing stops."

Talking on the White Home alongside a U.S. and Israeli delegation, Trump informed reporters that Ukrainians should be capable to defend themselves in opposition to escalating Russian assaults.

"They're getting hit very arduous now," Trump mentioned, and reiterated his disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin.

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Yehor Konovalov/AP After Trump's July 3 cellphone name with Putin, the Kremlin launched what the Ukrainian navy described as the biggest airstrikes on Ukraine for the reason that starting of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian air drive mentioned it recorded greater than 539 drones and 11 missiles – a document.

Hanna Shelest, director of safety research on the Ukrainian Prism International Coverage Council, informed NPR that it is clear Russia isn't heeding calls by Trump and Ukraine for a ceasefire.

"I do not see anybody besides Russia who's profitable," she mentioned. "Russia is dragging out negotiations so the U.S. will not introduce new sanctions in opposition to them however all indicators present that they don't seem to be critical about ending the battle."

Trump has repeatedly threatened sanctions in opposition to Russia if it does not agree to finish the battle. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has launched a invoice that will impose 500% tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil – that would come with the 2 most populous nations on the planet, China and India.

With Russian assaults escalating, Ukraine relies on air protection methods and munitions equipped by western allies – together with the U.S.-designed Patriot missile system – to guard Ukrainian cities. Ukraine's protection and international ministries mentioned they had been caught off guard final week when the Pentagon abruptly determined to pause shipments that included Patriot missiles, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds.

The Pentagon mentioned it halted shipments due to considerations stockpiles had been operating low – an evidence Shelest finds baffling.

"It might imply fairly a unfavourable for the U.S. status on the planet due to what it says about U.S. capabilities," she mentioned. "In order that they're sending the sign (of) how weak they're."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy introduced up the pressing want for air protection in a July 4 cellphone name with Trump that Zelenskyy later described as "one of the best dialog in all this time, extraordinarily productive."

"We mentioned air protection points, and I'm grateful for the willingness to assist," Zelenskyy mentioned throughout his nightly video tackle on Saturday.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4724x3150+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fbd%2Fb7a2731547729f045b6a4c31344b%2Fap25184539882782.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4724x3150+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F77%2Fbd%2Fb7a2731547729f045b6a4c31344b%2Fap25184539882782.jpg" class="img" alt="In this photo, taken on July 2, near Kharkiv, Ukraine, and provided by Ukraine's 127th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Defense press service, an air defense soldier gets ready to fire against Russian targets." loading="lazy"/> On this picture, taken on July 2, close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, and offered by Ukraine's 127th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Protection press service, an air protection soldier will get prepared to fireplace in opposition to Russian targets. Anatolii Lysianskyi/Ukrainian 127th Separate Brigade through AP disguise caption

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Anatolii Lysianskyi/Ukrainian 127th Separate Brigade through AP Zelenskyy additionally mentioned Ukraine had inked offers with western allies and an American protection firm on joint drone manufacturing which, he mentioned, might present Ukraine with tons of of hundreds of drones as early as this 12 months.

"This consists of interceptor drones, that are clearly our precedence," Zelenskyy mentioned.

Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Programs Forces, mentioned in a social media put up that Ukrainian navy intelligence signifies that Russia might quickly launch 1,000 assault drones per day.

"That is the trajectory," mentioned Phillips O'Brien, a professor of strategic research on the College of St. Andrews in Scotland.

"So long as Putin believes the battle is trending in his course, and Trump appears uninclined to place any strain on him, then I believe Putin will preserve combating," he mentioned.