Trump reverses course on Ukraine weapons, calls for increased military aid despite recent pause. The former president's statement follows a Pentagon decision to halt deliveries of critical weapons systems, including Patriot missiles and GMLRS, due to dwindling US stockpiles. This shift in Trump's stance comes amidst escalating Russian attacks causing civilian casualties and a complex military situation in Ukraine
Trump reverses course on Ukraine weapons, calling for increased military aid despite recent Pentagon pause. The former president's shift follows a controversial decision to halt deliveries of critical weapons systems, including air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery (like GMLRS and HIMARS), and other munitions, due to dwindling US stockpiles. This abrupt change in policy comes amid escalating Russian attacks and concerns over Ukraine's defense capabilities
Trump advocates for continued US military aid to Ukraine, stating, "They have to be able to defend themselves," despite a recent pause in weapons deliveries. This shift follows Pentagon concerns over dwindling US stockpiles and comes amidst intensified Russian attacks causing significant civilian casualties. The decision to halt shipments of critical weaponry, including Patriot missiles and GMLRS, surprised Ukrainian officials and allies
Russia's ongoing attacks on Ukraine tragically claimed the lives of at least 11 civilians and wounded over 80 more, including seven children, according to Monday's official reports
Sudden Halt to Ukraine Weapons Shipments Stuns Allies: Patriot Missiles, GMLRS, and More Delayed
Ukraine faces intensified, sophisticated Russian air attacks during the ongoing three-year war, making a recent pause in critical US weapons deliveries particularly problematic
Pentagon Silent on Resumption of Paused Ukraine Weapons Shipments: Following a halt to crucial military aid including Patriot missiles and GMLRS, the Department of Defense has yet to comment on whether weapon deliveries to Ukraine will restart
Despite pausing weapons deliveries, Trump vows swift resolution to the Ukraine conflict, reiterating his Day One promise to end the war if re-elected
During a White House dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Trump expressed frustration with Vladimir Putin and the ongoing Ukraine war. Trump's comments followed a controversial pause in US weapons deliveries to Ukraine, highlighting his struggle to find a resolution to the brutal conflict
Trump Expresses Displeasure with Putin Amid Ukraine Weapons Debate: The former president voiced his dissatisfaction with Vladimir Putin while also stating the US must continue supplying Ukraine with weapons to defend itself, a shift following a pause in critical military aid deliveries
Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit Found Dead After Dismissal Amidst Ukraine Drone Attacks. Hours after his dismissal by Putin, the Russian transport minister was discovered dead in an apparent suicide. This followed a weekend of widespread flight cancellations due to reported Ukrainian drone threats near Russian airports. The circumstances surrounding his firing remain unclear
Moscow and St. Petersburg airports faced widespread flight cancellations and delays, a now-common occurrence amid escalating Ukrainian drone attacks. Despite the air traffic disruption, Russian officials attributed the transport minister's dismissal to other factors
Russia's Transport Minister, 53-year-old Vitaly Savelyev, dismissed and found dead in an apparent suicide. Prior to his May 2024 appointment, he served as governor of the Kursk region. Russian media reports link his dismissal to a potential embezzlement investigation involving funds allocated for regional fortifications
Alleged Russian embezzlement contributed to weak defensive lines, leaving them vulnerable to a surprise Ukrainian offensive in August 2024. This breach exposed critical deficiencies in Russia's military preparedness
Over 100 Russian drones targeted Ukrainian civilians in overnight attacks, according to Ukrainian authorities. This follows a pause in US weapons deliveries to Ukraine, raising concerns about the ongoing conflict
Russia recently has intensified its airstrikes on civilian areas after more than three years of war. In the past week, Russia launched some 1,270 drones, 39 missiles and almost 1,000 powerful glide bombs at Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Monday.
Russia’s bigger army is also trying hard to break through at some points along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (620 miles) front line, where Ukrainian forces are severely stretched.
The strain of keeping Russia’s invasion at bay, the lack of progress in direct peace talks, and last week’s halt of some promised U.S. weapons shipments have compelled Ukraine to seek more military help from the U.S. and Europe.
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said earlier Monday that the pause in weapons to Ukraine came as part of a “standard review of all weapons and all aid” that the U.S. “is providing all countries and all regions around the world. Not just Ukraine.”
Leavitt said Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the global review of weapons and aid to ensure that “everything that’s going out the door aligns with America’s interests.”
Zelenskyy said Saturday that Ukraine had signed deals with European allies and a leading U.S. defense company to step up drone production, ensuring Kyiv receives “hundreds of thousands” more this year.
“Air defense is the main thing for protecting life,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram on Monday.
That includes developing and manufacturing interceptor drones that can stop Russia’s long-range Shahed drones, he said.
Extensive use of drones has also helped Ukraine compensate for its troop shortages on the front line.
One person was killed in the southern city of Odesa, another person was killed and 71 were injured in northeastern Kharkiv and falling drone debris caused damage in two districts of Kyiv, the capital, during nighttime drone attacks, Ukrainian authorities said.
Russian short-range drones also killed two people and injured two others in the northern Sumy region, officials said. Sumy is one of the places where Russia has concentrated large numbers of troops.
Also, nine people were injured and seven killed in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, regional head Vadym Filashkin said. He didn’t specify the weapons used.
More Russian long-range drone strikes Monday targeted military mobilization centers for the third time in five days, in an apparent attempt to disrupt recruitment, Ukraine’s Army Ground Forces command said.
Regional officials in Kharkiv and southern Zaporizhzhia said at least 17 people were injured.
Meanwhile, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that its troops shot down 91 Ukrainian drones in 13 Russian regions overnight, as well as over the Black Sea and the Crimean Peninsula, which was illegally annexed by Russia in 2014.
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Madhani reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Katie Marie Davies in Manchester, England, contributed.
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Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
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