President Donald Trump, in remarks to reporters before sitting down for dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, indicated that the U.S. will likely resume arms shipments to Ukraine. “We have to,” Trump told reporters about additional weapons deliveries for Ukraine, reported AP. “They have to be able to defend themselves.”
Trump also vented what AP described as his growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. “I’m not happy with President Putin at all,” Trump said.
Not long after Trump’s remarks, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell issued a statement indicating that at least some U.S. military shipments to Ukraine will resume. “At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,” he said. “Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities.”
Meanwhile, Politico reported that U.S. arms shipments could resume following a series of meetings scheduled for his coming week in Rome and Kyiv. White House special envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg will meet with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov in Rome at an international aid conference, followed by meetings in Kyiv this week and next, with the issue of aid sure to be at the top of the agenda.
