President Trump speaks within the Blue Room of the White Home on Monday.
Alex Brandon/AP
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Alex Brandon/AP
KYIV, Ukraine — The Pentagon stated on Monday that it’ll ship extra defensive weapons to Ukraine on the request of President Trump, reversing a Pentagon determination every week in the past to pause air protection shipments already en path to the Ukrainian navy.
In an announcement, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell stated the weapons would “make sure the Ukrainians can defend themselves whereas we work to safe an enduring peace and be certain that the killing stops.”
Talking on the White Home alongside a U.S. and Israeli delegation, Trump instructed reporters that Ukrainians should be capable of defend themselves in opposition to escalating Russian assaults.
“They’re getting hit very laborious now,” Trump stated, and reiterated his disappointment in Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Smoke rises after a Russian strike on Kyiv, Ukraine on July 4.
Yehor Konovalov/AP
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Yehor Konovalov/AP
After Trump’s July 3 telephone name with Putin, the Kremlin launched what the Ukrainian navy described because the largest airstrikes on Ukraine for the reason that starting of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. The Ukrainian air drive stated it recorded greater than 539 drones and 11 missiles – a report.
Hanna Shelest, director of safety research on the Ukrainian Prism International Coverage Council, instructed NPR that it is clear Russia just isn’t heeding calls by Trump and Ukraine for a ceasefire.
“I do not see anybody besides Russia who’s successful,” she stated. “Russia is dragging out negotiations so the U.S. will not introduce new sanctions in opposition to them however all indicators present that they are not severe about ending the battle.”
Trump has repeatedly threatened sanctions in opposition to Russia if it does not agree to finish the battle. 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 this planet, China and India.
With Russian assaults escalating, Ukraine depends on air protection techniques 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 stated 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 stated it halted shipments due to considerations stockpiles had been working low – an evidence Shelest finds baffling.
“It could imply fairly a damaging for the U.S. fame on this planet due to what it says about U.S. capabilities,” she stated. “So 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 telephone 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 stated throughout his nightly video deal with on Saturday.
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 fireside in opposition to Russian targets.
Anatolii Lysianskyi/Ukrainian 127th Separate Brigade through AP
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Anatolii Lysianskyi/Ukrainian 127th Separate Brigade through AP
Zelenskyy additionally stated Ukraine had inked offers with western allies and an American protection firm on joint drone manufacturing which, he stated, might present Ukraine with a whole lot of 1000’s of drones as early as this 12 months.
“This contains interceptor drones, that are clearly our precedence,” Zelenskyy stated.
Robert Brovdi, the commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Methods Forces, stated in a social media put up that Ukrainian navy intelligence signifies that Russia might quickly launch 1,000 assault drones per day.
“That is the trajectory,” stated Phillips O’Brien, a professor of strategic research on the College of St. Andrews in Scotland.
“So long as Putin believes the battle is trending in his course, and Trump appears uninclined to place any stress on him, then I feel Putin will hold combating,” he stated.
