United States President, Donald Trump, announced on Monday his intention to dispatch more defensive weapons to Ukraine, days after his administration temporarily paused some arms deliveries.
“We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to – they have to be able to defend themselves,” Trump stated, speaking ahead of a dinner meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“They’re getting hit very hard. We’re going to have to send more weapons,” he continued. “Defensive weapons, primarily, but they’re getting hit very, very hard.”
This new commitment follows a controversial pause last week, when a senior White House official confirmed to CNN that the administration halted certain military supplies, including air defense systems.
The pause was part of a broader review of U.S. military aid and foreign support, approved by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth.
At the time, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly explained the move, saying it was made “to put America’s interests first.”
Several officials hinted that the review may have been partially influenced by the Pentagon’s strategic pivot toward countering China and preparing for potential conflict in the Pacific—a direction advocated by Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s policy chief.
“The Department of Defense continues to provide the President with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end. At the same time, the Department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces’ readiness for Administration defense priorities,” Colby said in a statement during the aid suspension.
Amid the developments, Ukraine claimed responsibility for a strike on a Russian air base while Moscow launched a wave of drone attacks on Kyiv. Russia, in turn, responded to the U.S. pause by suggesting, without evidence, that the delay stemmed from depleted American weapons supplies.
Nevertheless, the Pentagon, under Trump’s directive, is now pressing forward with new arms shipments. “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense will send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace,” said chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. “Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities.”
Since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, the U.S. has remained Ukraine’s top provider of military aid, delivering a range of equipment including tanks, drones, rocket systems, and radar units.
However, this extensive support has raised alarms about the pressure on America’s own defense inventories.
Earlier in March, Trump had halted military aid altogether after a contentious conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. That pause lasted about a week before deliveries resumed.
The latest decision to resume and expand aid follows Trump’s recent separate calls with both Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
After speaking with Putin, Trump described the discussion as “disappointing” and said there had been “no progress” toward a ceasefire.
On the other hand, Trump’s call with Zelensky appeared more fruitful. Facing relentless Russian drone strikes, Zelensky has been urgently appealing for enhanced air defense systems.
Shortly after the Trump-Putin conversation, Russia unleashed a record-breaking drone assault on Ukraine.
Following that, Trump acknowledged the Ukrainian plea, saying the U.S. was evaluating the request for more Patriot defense systems after what he described as a “very good” conversation with Zelensky.
The Ukrainian leader, in turn, called it the “most productive” discussion he’s had with Trump.
Reiterating his growing frustration with Moscow, Trump concluded Monday’s remarks by saying, “I’m not happy with President Putin at all.”