U.S. President Donald Trump announced that some Patriot air defense missiles are already on their way to Ukraine. This declaration comes just a day after he revealed that NATO member states would finance the transfer of American weapons to the war-torn nation.
This marks a notable shift in Trump’s stance, as he had previously opposed sending U.S. weapons to Ukraine.
“They are coming from Germany,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday evening, without providing further details.
German Role in Patriot Deliveries
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius confirmed that preparations are underway to deliver two Patriot systems to Ukraine. While Germany will cover the costs of these deliveries, final technical, logistical, and financial details are still being ironed out.
“The details seem solvable for both sides, so we will start work quickly,” Pistorius stated on Monday, following a meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth at the Pentagon. He underscored Ukraine’s urgent need for additional air defense systems.
The transfer of these advanced systems is crucial as Russian Shahed drones targeted the city of Kharkiv on Tuesday evening, injuring two people. Regional Governor Oleh Synyehubov reported at least 17 explosions in the city within 20 minutes.
Trump’s Ultimatum to Russia and Stance on Strikes Inside Russia
Trump confirmed he has not spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin since Monday, when he announced a 50-day deadline for Russia to accept a ceasefire agreement to avoid sanctions on countries trading with Russia.
He did not confirm whether direct talks are planned to reach an agreement but defended the timeline. “At the end of 50 days, if we don’t have a deal, it’s going to be very bad,” Trump warned, adding that a deal might not even require the full 50 days.
When asked about a Financial Times report suggesting he privately urged Ukraine to intensify strikes deep inside Russia, Trump clarified his position. The newspaper, citing sources familiar with the discussions, claimed Trump had asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky if the Ukrainian military could strike Moscow if the U.S. provided long-range weapons.
“No, he should not attack Moscow,” Trump told reporters on Tuesday when questioned if Zelensky should order an attack on the Russian capital.
EU’s Sanctions Struggle Continues
European officials are working to ensure Ukraine receives necessary weaponry, even as the European Union faces continued challenges in passing a new round of sanctions against Russia. Slovakia again blocked the latest EU sanctions package.
“I am truly sad that we did not reach this agreement today,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas on Tuesday, adding, “But I still hope we will make the decision tomorrow.”
The new round of sanctions has been stalled for weeks due to a dispute with Slovakia over separate plans to cut off Russian gas imports. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico stated he requires further guarantees from Brussels regarding the plan to cease Russian gas imports by the end of 2027. Slovakia remains dependent on Russian gas imports and benefits from transit fees on supplies passing through its territory.
