Washington, July 14 (UNI) US President Donald Trump has reportedly unveiled a new weapons package for Ukraine which will contain more offensive weapons, after earlier announcing that he has greenlit shipments for Kyiv which were stopped for a while due to domestic shortages and shifting strategic priorities.

"We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military. They're going to pay us 100% for them," Trump pointed out, adding that the issue would be discussed at his meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington today, reports Axios News.

Regarding the supply of Patriot missiles which are at a critical low in Ukraine, Trump didn’t say much, stating "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. It will be business for us, and we will send them Patriots."

The scheme was reportedly proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit two weeks ago. Trump and Zelensky, who met on the sidelines of the summit ended discussions on a positive note, with the White House stating that it was a very productive meeting.

US officials noted that the shipment was a strategic move from Washington’s side to pressure Russian President Vladmir Putin to come to agreements on a peace proposal, after he declined an earlier settlement offer during a phone call with the US President.

Noting that Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Moscow’s unwillingness to come to a peace proposal and continue hostilities, a US official stated that his weapons package approval was fuelled by this very frustration.

“Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive.”

Putin has indicated that over the next 60 days he would make a renewed push to occupy territory up to the administrative lines of the Ukrainian regions in which Russia has a significant foothold.



UNI ANV RN