Trump Approves More Weapons for Ukraine Amid Intensified Russian Strikes, Warns Putin He's 'Not Happy'
Monday’s remarks mark a notable shift in tone from a president who has long expressed skepticism about continued US support for Kyiv.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — US President Donald Trump said Monday that Washington will send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine, reversing a partial suspension of arms shipments announced the previous week by the White House, according to AFP.
“They’re getting hit very, very hard,” Trump told reporters at the White House, referring to Ukraine’s ongoing struggle to repel intensified Russian missile and drone attacks. “We’re going to have to send more weapons—defensive weapons primarily,” he said, adding that he is “not happy” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The announcement comes amid some of the heaviest aerial bombardments Ukraine has endured since Russia launched its full-scale military operations in 2022. The recent pause in US munitions shipments had raised concerns among Ukrainian officials, who warned of potential vulnerabilities on the battlefield as Russian forces gain momentum.
While former President Joe Biden committed over $65 billion in military aid to Ukraine during his tenure, Trump has so far held off from announcing new aid packages since taking office in January. Monday’s remarks mark a notable shift in tone from a president who has long expressed skepticism about continued US support for Kyiv.
Trump’s move to resume arms shipments appears driven by the growing urgency of Ukraine’s defense needs, but it may also reflect pressure from NATO allies and domestic critics urging him to maintain American influence in the ongoing conflict.
Meanwhile, the prospects for a negotiated ceasefire appear increasingly dim as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Moscow would not agree to any ceasefire unless sweeping Western sanctions are lifted and hundreds of billions of dollars in frozen Russian assets are returned.
“Anti-Russian sanctions must be lifted, all legal claims against Russia dropped, and assets seized in the West returned,” Lavrov said in an interview with Hungary’s Magyar Nemzet. He reiterated the Kremlin’s demand that any settlement address what Moscow calls the “root causes” of the conflict—including Ukraine’s NATO ambitions and its control over contested regions.
Lavrov also insisted that the international community must formally recognize Russia’s sovereignty over Crimea and the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia regions. The 2022 referendums that Russia uses to justify its claims to these territories were widely condemned by the West as illegal and conducted under coercion.
While Lavrov said Russia remains “open to a political and diplomatic resolution,” he emphasized that Moscow rejects any temporary pause in fighting. “The goal should be a lasting peace,” he said. “Russia does not seek a pause that would enable Ukraine’s government and its foreign supporters to regroup, continue mobilization, and reinforce military capacity.”
On June 2, Russian and Ukrainian delegations exchanged ceasefire proposals during indirect negotiations in Istanbul. However, the documents revealed vast gaps in expectations—differences many analysts say are unlikely to be reconciled anytime soon. Since then, direct talks have stalled, further dimming hopes for a peaceful resolution.
As the war enters its third year with no clear end in sight, Trump’s decision to resume military assistance may signal Washington’s renewed commitment to Ukraine’s defense—even as Moscow doubles down on its demands and military posture.
