Trump to renew sending weapons to Ukraine : NPR

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

In an announcement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell mentioned the weapons would "make sure the Ukrainians can defend themselves whereas we work to safe a long-lasting peace and be sure that the killing stops."

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

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

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Fcc%2F156817c34dbe92ba5ae6e116ee1b%2Fap25185292634587.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/4032x3024+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F18%2Fcc%2F156817c34dbe92ba5ae6e116ee1b%2Fap25185292634587.jpg" class="img" alt="Smoke rises after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine on July 4." loading="lazy"/> Smoke rises after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine on July 4. Yehor Konovalov/AP cover caption

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

Hanna Shelest, director of safety research on the Ukrainian Prism Overseas Coverage Council, instructed NPR that it is clear Russia will not be 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 towards them however all indicators present that they don't seem to be severe about ending the conflict."

Trump has repeatedly threatened sanctions towards Russia if it would not agree to finish the conflict. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., has launched a invoice that might impose 500% tariffs on international locations that purchase Russian oil – that would come with the 2 most populous nations on the earth, China and India.

With Russian assaults escalating, Ukraine depends on air protection programs and munitions provided by western allies – together with the U.S.-designed Patriot missile system – to guard Ukrainian cities. Ukraine's protection and overseas 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 issues stockpiles had been working low – a proof Shelest finds baffling.

"It could imply fairly a adverse for the U.S. fame on the earth 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 "the very 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 handle 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 photograph, taken on July 2, close to Kharkiv, Ukraine, and supplied by Ukraine's 127th Separate Brigade of the Territorial Protection press service, an air protection soldier will get prepared to fireplace towards Russian targets. Anatolii Lysianskyi/Ukrainian 127th Separate Brigade by way of AP cover caption

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Anatolii Lysianskyi/Ukrainian 127th Separate Brigade by way of 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 lots of of 1000's of drones as early as this yr.

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

Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine's Unmanned Methods Forces, mentioned in a social media publish that Ukrainian army 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 conflict is trending in his course, and Trump appears uninclined to place any strain on him, then I feel Putin will maintain preventing," he mentioned.