Trump Takes a Stand: Sending Defensive Weapons to Ukraine Amid Rising Tensions

WASHINGTON (Reuters) — President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had approved sending U.S. defensive weapons to Ukraine and was considering additional sanctions on Moscow, underscoring his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the mounting death toll in Russia’s war with Ukraine.

Trump, who campaigned on a promise to end the war within a day, has been unable to deliver on that pledge. His administration’s attempts to broker peace have fallen short.

During a White House meeting with cabinet officials on Tuesday, Trump directed his anger towards Putin.

\”I’m not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now,\” Trump stated, noting the thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers who have lost their lives.

\”We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin. … He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,\” Trump said. He added that he was considering supporting a Senate bill that would impose severe sanctions on Russia over the war.

\”I’m looking at it very strongly,\” he said.

The bill, co-sponsored by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, would also penalize other countries trading with Moscow by imposing 500 percent tariffs on nations purchasing Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports.

On Monday, Trump announced that the U.S. would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to aid in its defense against Russian advances. He confirmed on Tuesday that he had approved this move.

\”We’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I’ve approved that,\” he said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday that he had ordered an expansion of contacts with the U.S. to ensure critical deliveries of military supplies, primarily air defense systems.

\”We currently have all the necessary political statements and decisions, and we must implement them as quickly as possible to protect our people and positions,\” he said.

\”These are critical deliveries that mean saving lives and protecting Ukrainian cities and villages. I expect results from these contacts very soon. This week, we are preparing formats for meetings of our military and political teams.\”

Zelenskyy has repeatedly urged Ukraine’s Western allies to impose tougher sanctions on Moscow, aiming to force the Kremlin to agree to a ceasefire as a step towards ending the war, which has now lasted 40 months.

A recent decision by the Pentagon to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings from Kyiv last week that the move would weaken its ability to defend against Russia’s intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances.

When asked on Tuesday who had ordered that pause, Trump, seated next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, responded:

\”I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?\”