Washington, July 14 (UNI) US President Donald Trump today said that the United States will be sending Patriot air defense munitions to Ukraine to provide necessary help to the war-torn nation in its fight against the Russian invasion.
“I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection. But the European Union is paying for it- we’re not paying anything for it, but we will send it,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews upon his return to Washington.
Reiterating his disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he added, “We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need because Putin has really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening. A little bit of a problem there. I don’t like it.”
Washington’s move comes just two weeks after the U.S. decided to pause some arms deliveries to Kyiv.
The president did not reveal how many Patriot systems or missiles will be sent to Ukraine as Russia escalates its war.
Senators are moving toward arming Trump with a “sledgehammer” bill to use against Moscow, as Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal are urging the passage of a bipartisan bill that will impose new sanctions on Russia.
The legislation, which would allow the president to levy a 500 per cent tariff on imports from countries that purchase Russian uranium, gas, and oil, has gained momentum in the Senate as Trump has signaled he will escalate U.S. action against Russia.
“(Blumenthal) and I have got 85 co-sponsors in the United States Senate for congressional sanctions, with a sledgehammer available to President Trump to go after Putin’s economy and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine,” Graham said on CBS’ Face the Nation on Sunday, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump told reporters that “we will see tomorrow” when asked whether he would announce sanctions against Russia, noting he’ll meet on Monday with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
“I am very disappointed with President Putin, and I thought he was somebody that meant what he said, and he’ll talk so beautifully, and then he’ll bomb people at night. We don’t like that,” Trump added.
Senator Lindsey Graham said that countries cooperating with Russia would have to choose between Moscow and Washington.
“China, India, and Brazil, you’re about to get hurt big time if you keep helping Putin,” Graham said in an interview with CBS News.
According to the lawmaker, countries helping Russia must choose between the American economy and support for Russia.
He said that a “turning point” would soon occur in the conflict around Ukraine, which is connected with the allegedly upcoming deliveries of additional Western weapons.
