President Donald Trump announced Monday that the U.S. will send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a pause in military aid.
The shift comes amid intensified Russian attacks on Ukraine, which have killed civilians and strained Ukrainian defenses.
Last week, the Pentagon halted the delivery of key weapons—including Patriot missiles, GMLRS, and Howitzer rounds—citing concerns over depleted U.S. stockpiles.
Trump defended the reversal, stating, “We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now.”
The Pentagon confirmed late Monday that, under Trump’s orders, weapons deliveries will resume to support Ukraine’s self-defense and broader peace efforts.
Trump reiterated his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, though he has stopped short of imposing new sanctions on Russia’s oil industry.
Senator Lindsey Graham revealed Trump had backed a bill proposing a 500% tariff on imports from countries still buying Russian oil—a measure that could affect China and India.
Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face intense Russian bombardment, with more than 1,270 drones, 39 missiles, and nearly 1,000 glide bombs launched in a single week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increased military aid, especially air defense systems, to counter the wave of Russian drone and missile strikes.
Ukraine has signed new agreements with European partners and a U.S. defense company to scale up drone production, aiming to deploy “hundreds of thousands” this year.
Recent Russian drone strikes have killed and injured civilians in Odesa, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Sumy, and Donetsk, severely impacting Ukraine’s urban centers.
In Russia, Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in an apparent suicide after being dismissed by Putin, amid reports of corruption and drone-related travel chaos.
The Kremlin offered no official reason for Starovoit’s dismissal, though reports suggest his removal may be linked to embezzlement and failures in regional defenses.
Russia’s military claimed to have downed 91 Ukrainian drones overnight across 13 regions, including over the Black Sea and occupied Crimea.
Despite the resumed aid, Trump continues to frame U.S. military support within the context of “America First,” requiring a global review of defense priorities.
