The Kremlin stated on Monday that United States President Donald Trump’s comments about supplying Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine highlight the broader reality that American weapons and ammunition shipments to Kyiv have been ongoing and continue to this day.
Trump did not say how many Patriots he plans to send to Ukraine, but he said the United States would be reimbursed for their cost by the European Union.
“Now it seems that these supplies will be paid for by Europe, some will be paid for, some will not,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters when asked about Trump’s words.
“The fact remains that the supply of weapons, ammunition, and military equipment from the United States continued and continues to Ukraine.”
Patriots To Ukraine
Trump said on Sunday he would send Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine because they were needed to repel intensifying Russian attacks.
The U.S. President said that the weapons are essential for Ukraine’s protection, noting that Russian President Vladimir Putin “talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening,” referring to the ongoing Russian strikes against Ukrainian cities.
He is expected to announce a new plan to arm Ukraine with offensive weapons in a sharp departure from his earlier stance, Axios reported on Sunday, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Reuters could not immediately verify the report.
The U.S. president has grown increasingly disenchanted with Putin because the Russian leader has resisted Trump’s attempts to negotiate a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.
Patriot systems are among the most advanced surface-to-air missile platforms and could significantly bolster Ukraine’s ability to intercept incoming threats.
Peskov said that Kyiv was obviously in no hurry on the third round of peace talks, adding that Russia was ready for them and awaiting clarity on the timing from Ukraine.
(With inputs from Reuters)
