
Donald Trump slams Putin after ‘no good' call, says Ukraine must get patriot missiles to stop escalating attacks
Ukraine pushes for Air Defense support
In a conversation with President Zelenskiy, Trump said Ukraine 'is going to need them [Patriot missiles] for defense,' acknowledging that the country continues to suffer from intense Russian airstrikes. Trump praised the capabilities of the Patriot systems, calling them 'pretty amazing.'
Zelenskiy, in a Telegram post, said that the two leaders had discussed joint defense production and the need to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses. He added that both sides agreed to collaborate on purchases and investments aimed at increasing Ukraine's ability to 'defend the sky.'
U.S. and German decisions still pending
The status of future Patriot missile shipments from the U.S. remains unclear after Washington halted some deliveries. The move drew concern from Kyiv, which warned that any interruption could weaken its defense against Russia's military escalation.
Germany has also entered discussions about acquiring Patriot systems to bridge the supply gap, but no formal commitments have been made. Trump said he had spoken with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz regarding the missile request, but confirmed that a final decision was still pending.
A source familiar with the Trump-Zelenskiy conversation described the call as 'very good,' with some optimism that missile deliveries might resume soon.
Talks follow escalation in Russian attacks
The conversation between Trump and Zelenskiy took place a day after Trump expressed dissatisfaction with his discussion with President Putin. 'He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people — it's no good,' Trump said of the Russian leader, adding that he found the call frustrating.
Just hours after Trump's talk with Putin, Russia launched its largest drone attack of the war on Kyiv, an event Zelenskiy described as 'deliberately massive and cynical.' In his nightly address, Zelenskiy confirmed that his talks with Trump included plans to arrange meetings between their teams to further strengthen air defenses.
With no ceasefire in sight and Russian strikes intensifying, Ukraine's need for advanced defense systems remains critical as international talks continue.

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