3 hours ago
Last Updated:July 11, 2025, 18:49 IST
Donald Trump announced sending Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine through NATO as Russian attacks intensify.
US President Donald Trump with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (AP file photo)
US President Donald Trump announced that Washington will send additional weapons- including Patriot air defense systems- to Ukraine through NATO as Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukrainian cities intensify. In an interview with NBC News, Donald Trump said, “We’re going to be sending Patriots to NATO, and then NATO will distribute that," adding that the alliance would cover the cost of the weapons.
“NATO is going to reimburse the full cost," he said.
The move comes after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for urgent air defense support following a record-breaking Russian drone barrage this week during which 728 drones targeted Ukrainian cities.
Zelenskyy requested 10 Patriot systems, describing them as “real protectors of life" as civilian casualties continue to rise. June marked the deadliest month in three years, with 232 civilians killed and over 1,300 injured, according to the United Nations.
Shift In Donald Trump’s Approach
While Donald Trump previously called for scaling back US military aid to Ukraine since returning to office in January, his latest announcement suggests a tactical shift. The US had paused some critical shipments last week, including Patriot interceptor missiles and precision artillery shells, raising alarm in Kyiv that its air defense reserves were running dangerously low.
“We have to… They’re getting hit very hard now," Donald Trump, signaling renewed urgency after a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin left him “not happy" about the lack of progress in peace talks. Donald Trump described Vladimir Putin’s attitude as “very nice" but ultimately “meaningless."
Donald Trump’s announcement aligns with efforts by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said that he has urged European NATO allies to hand over Patriot batteries from their own stocks to expedite Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
Marco Rubio said, “We have continued to encourage our NATO allies to provide those weapons. Since they have them in their stocks, then we can enter into financial agreements… where they can purchase the replacements."
view commentsLocation :Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:News world Trump Says Ukraine To Receive US Air Defence Systems Via NATO
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