Trump to announce "aggressive" Ukraine weapons plan
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Trump and Putin in Helsinki in 2018. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty
President Trump will announce a new plan to arm Ukraine on Monday that is expected to include offensive weapons, two sources with knowledge of the plans tell Axios.
Why it matters: Sending offensive weapons would be a major shift for Trump, who had until recently been at pains to say he would provide only defensive weapons to avoid escalating the conflict.
- U.S., Ukrainian and European officials hope the weapons will shift the trajectory of the war and change Russian President Vladimir Putin's calculations regarding a ceasefire.
- Two sources told Axios they had reason to believe the plan was likely to include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow. However, neither was aware of any final decision.
- "Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios.
Driving the news: The new initiative, which will be rolled out in a meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will involve European countries paying for U.S.-made weapons that will be sent to Ukraine.
- The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
Behind the scenes: The scheme was proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit two weeks ago.
- U.S. and Ukrainian officials said the meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the summit was their best so far.
- "Zelensky came like a normal human being, not crazy, and was dressed like a somebody that should be at NATO. He had a group of people with him that also seemed not crazy. So they had a good conversation," a U.S. official said. Zelensky wore a suit at the summit for the first time since 2022.
The other side: Trump has grown increasingly frustrated over the last two weeks over Putin's unwillingness to move towards a ceasefire and Russia's escalating attacks on Kyiv and other cities.
- One thing that convinced Trump to move down this path was the July 3 phone call in which Putin made clear he planned to escalate the war.
- Putin indicated that over the next 60 days he would make a renewed push to occupy territory up to the administrative lines of the Ukrainian regions in which Russia has a significant foothold.
- "He wants to take all of it," Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron shortly after his call with Putin, according to a source with direct knowledge.
- In the ensuing days, the weapons plan turned from an idea to something more concrete.
What he's saying: Trump told reporters Sunday evening that the weapons he would send Ukraine through European countries would include "various pieces of very sophisticated military (equipment)," including Patriot air defense batteries.
- Trump said European countries "are going to pay us 100% for them. It is going to be business for us."
- He added that he is "very disappointed" in Putin for saying he wanted peace and then escalating his attacks on Ukraine.
