Trump Reverses Course, Vows New Military Aid to Ukraine After Frustration with Putin

In an unexpected policy shift, President Donald Trump has pledged to resume and expand U.S. military aid to Ukraine, just a few days after halting vital arms shipments. During a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said, "We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves," about Ukraine's battle against heightened Russian aggression.

The announcement came at the end of a intense week in which the Pentagon had halted sales of Patriot missiles, guided artillery, and other important defense hardware, citing dwindling American stocks. The action caused alarm in Kyiv where the authorities feared that they would be left vulnerable to intensified Russian aerial bombardment.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke with Trump on July 4 in a "productive" call, reports say, calling on the U.S. to restore aid. Trump's flip appears to have been inspired by a second call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, which had been "very disappointing," he had said. He added, "Putin is not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people."

The Pentagon later confirmed that additional defensive weapons will be shipped to Ukraine under Trump's directive. Although the exact inventory and timing remain undisclosed, the aid is reported to include air defense equipment along with precision-guided rounds.

Trump's new commitment is a sharp departure from his earlier resistance to Ukrainian assistance and is an indication that he has shifted his stance on the war. Both nations' representatives are going to meet soon to hammer out the details of the new military assistance package.