Translated with AI
US President Donald Trump announced on Sunday, July 13, the forthcoming transfer of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, emphasizing that this would be an important step in supporting the country as it defends itself against Russian aggression. The American leader reported this during a visit to Joint Base Andrews in Maryland.
At the same time, Trump did not specify the exact number of systems that will be transferred to Kyiv, noting only that Ukraine will receive "some quantity" of Patriot systems. An important detail was that the United States intends to sell these modern anti-aircraft missile systems to the European Union, which will then transfer them to the Ukrainian side.
"For us, this will be a business," Donald Trump emphasized in a conversation with journalists, adding that Ukraine needs Patriot systems "urgently and in large quantities." However, the president did not name which EU countries the systems will be sold to, nor the exact timing of their transfer.
Earlier, in an interview with NBC News on July 10, Trump said: "We send weapons to NATO, and NATO pays for those weapons 100 percent. Those weapons go to NATO, and NATO is going to give them to Ukraine." The U.S. is thus seeking to use a model in which the bulk of the financial burden falls on European allies.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio took a similar position on July 11, emphasizing that some of the weapons required by Ukraine are already in NATO countries in Europe. This allows for the necessary equipment and weapons to be transferred to the front more quickly and efficiently. "You can deliver something from Germany to Ukraine much faster than ordering it from factories in the US and sending it across the ocean," Rubio noted during a working visit to Malaysia.
According to the Axios portal, next Monday, July 14, Donald Trump intends to present a new "aggressive" plan to arm Ukraine, including the supply of offensive weapons capable of striking targets deep in Russia, all the way to Moscow. The publication's sources note that a final decision on this issue has not yet been made, but negotiations and preparations are active.
Trump's decision to expand support for Kyiv, according to Axios, was largely prompted by a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on July 3. During the conversation, the Russian leader allegedly made it clear that he intended to take active military action in the next 60 days to seize new territories in Ukraine.
US Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican known for his tough approach to Russia, supported this position, saying that Trump is “very angry with Putin” and that his statement on July 14 “will be very aggressive.” Graham, one of the authors of the bill to tighten sanctions against Russia, emphasizes the need for maximum pressure on Moscow.
Patriot air defense systems are considered among the most effective in the world, capable of intercepting missiles and aircraft at long range, providing critical protection for strategic assets and civilians.
The transfer of such systems to Ukraine can significantly strengthen the country's defense capability and change the balance of power in the conflict zone. At the same time, using the scheme of selling systems through the countries of the European Union helps Washington distribute the financial burden among allies and speed up the delivery process.
The delivery of Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, as well as plans to deliver long-range missiles, demonstrates the willingness of the United States and its allies to step up military support for Kyiv in response to Russia’s ongoing aggression. These measures could become a key factor in the development of the conflict in the coming months and significantly affect the course of hostilities.
