President Donald Trump has made a dramatic change in announcing that the United States will once again supply and increase the shipment of defensive arms to Ukraine, after having made attempts to halt some of its shipments to review its militaries stocks.
On July 7, meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump told reporters, We are going to send some more weapons–we have to. They must be capable of defending themselves. They are being put through badly now.”
The announcement is after days of speculation on whether the U.S. was going to reduce its assistance to the country in the light of an internal review of the Pentagon on military stocks and defense needs worldwide.
That review had temporarily stopped the sale of some arms, including interceptors like Patriot missiles.
However, Trump goes on to counterbalance that freeze with what he said Monday, with greater focus on the fact that Ukraine has a pressing need of defensive tools to counter the continued attack by Russia, especially via drone attacks and long-range missiles.
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The increasing tensions with Putin
The move by Trump follows one of the most publicized phone conversations with the Russian President Vladimir Putin, which supposedly made no achievements on the current war. Russia The same day of that call, within hours, Russia unleashed the biggest drone attack on Kyiv since the start of the war, killing one person, injuring at least 23 others, and causing significant structural damage to the Ukrainian capital.
Trump told reporters, I am disappointed frankly that President Putin has not stopped. He was growing frustrated by a leader who he applauded earlier due to his perceived strength but who now does not seem to relent in pursuing his military aggression.
Despite his past policies promoting diplomatic efforts to stop the war, the recent development seems to have made Trump stiffer.
We attempted to negotiate a peace agreement. But as they continue to bomb Kyiv this way, what can we do? a senior administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Behind the Pause: Pentagon Capability Review
In fact, the Pentagon confirmed earlier this week that it suspended some shipments of U.S. military aid, including interceptors and other high-value items, as part of a so-called capability review of American stockpiles. The review was being done by the Pentagon, according to spokesman Sean Parnell, to make sure that U.S. military assistance was consistent with our defense needs.
This brief hiatus raised concerns of Ukrainian officials and their foreign supporters, particularly when Russia seemed to be planning a new attack on eastern and southern Ukraine.
A spokesman of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said: Delays in delivery may cost lives. We understand the necessity of America to defend their own security but Ukraine is at the forefront of this war.
An Exclusive Interview with Zelenskyy
To lend more weight to his decision, Trump met the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in a closed-door meeting at the NATO Summit in The Hague last week. The two leaders talked about not only the situation on the ground but also about the immediate need of Ukraine to have more Patriot missile systems which are vital to counter attacks on the air by Russia drone and missile barrages.
Following the meeting, Trump admitted that the U.S. can potentially provide further Patriot systems in accordance with the stockpile and readiness.
We can do stuff, he responded, and I am following up on it.
Support and Stockpiles Balance
Although the move by Trump sends a definite message of solidarity to Kyiv, there are issues concerning the readiness of the U.S. military itself. Lawmakers have raised concerns that the American arsenals are running low and that the Pentagon is losing its strategic position in the world at large not only in Europe, but also in Asia-Pacific region.
The danger of forceful aid schemes has long been cautioned by military pundits, but with the current rift between the US and China over Taiwan, there is a need to create a precarious balance between being ready to fight abroad and at home.
Nevertheless, the government claims to be able to tread that path.
On Monday, Parnell said after Trump made his latest remarks, the U.S. feels that it can help Ukraine and still keep our own abilities to defend ourselves.
Political and Strategic Implications
The comments made by Trump might extend to political waves as well. Although a handful of Republicans have been condemning further assistance to Ukraine as open-ended and costly, others perceive such an action by Trump as a practical step following the unwillingness of Russia to de-escalate.
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Globally, the news can allay fears among NATO members, most of whom had expressed fears of the U.S. abandoning its allies in Ukraine after the Pentagon decided last month to halt support.
As a Europe diplomat explained after the meeting, leadership is about adapting when the facts change. We gladly appreciate President Trump with his renewed care about Ukraine.
What’s Next?
With the battlefield situation still unfolding, the big question now will be what type of weapons and how many of them are to be provided in the next few weeks.
The administration has not actually published a comprehensive list of the new aid package but on the inside there have been hints of the package comprising of interceptors, armored vehicular systems and radar systems.
Meanwhile, at least, the Ukrainian forces will be looking skywards and towards Washington, as they await the next phase.
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