Latest news with #defensiveweapons
Al Mayadeen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Pentagon confirms upcoming US weapons shipment to Ukraine
The Pentagon announced the upcoming shipment of additional defensive weapons from the United States to Ukraine, according to a Reuters report on Tuesday. The move comes as Washington maintains its ongoing support for Kiev amid the ongoing war. US President Donald Trump had previously pledged to continue arming Ukraine, emphasizing that the shipments would focus on 'defensive' weapons. In line with Trump's earlier statements, the latest weapons package aims to bolster Ukraine's defensive capabilities. However, the nature and quantity of the forthcoming shipment were not disclosed. On that note, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any shipments containing weapons for Ukraine would be considered legitimate military targets by Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry further stated that NATO member states were "playing with fire" by continuing to supply arms to Ukraine, asserting that increasing Western arms deliveries to Ukraine undermine negotiations and escalate tensions. Lavrov added that the US and NATO are not merely supplying weapons but are also directly involved in the war through training Ukrainian personnel in countries including the UK, Germany, and Italy. Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is expected to meet with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at an international assistance conference in Rome. This will be followed by additional meetings in Kiev over the coming week, the report reports from Politico indicate that US military deliveries to Kiev may resume following a series of meetings in Italy and Ukraine. The recent pause in support was attributed to the Pentagon's standard review of all military aid provided by the US globally, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. On July 2, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed the suspension of certain supplies, including ammunition and anti-aircraft missiles, citing the need to prioritize "America's interests." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by saying that a reduction in arms deliveries to Ukraine would end the war sooner. Read more: Dems accuse Hegseth of falsifying arms shortage to block Ukraine aid
Al Mayadeen
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Al Mayadeen
Trump to give more weapons to Ukraine, censures 'very nice' Putin
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Tuesday that he had approved the delivery of additional defensive weapons to Ukraine and is weighing new sanctions against Russia, expressing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the worsening toll of the war. Speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Trump said that while he had once believed in diplomacy with Putin, recent battlefield developments and rising casualties have left him disillusioned. 'I'm not happy with Putin. I can tell you that much right now,' Trump said, pointing to the thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers killed during the war. 'We get a lot of bullsh*t thrown at us by Putin. … He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless,' he added. Trump had campaigned on a promise to end the war in Ukraine within a day. That promise, however, remains unfulfilled as efforts by his administration to broker a peace agreement have stalled. Trump also said he is seriously reviewing a bipartisan Senate bill that proposes sweeping sanctions on Russia. The legislation, led by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham and Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal, would impose steep penalties not only on Russia but also on nations continuing to trade with Moscow. The proposed bill includes 500% tariffs on Russian oil, gas, uranium, and other exports, which aims to further isolate Russia economically and punish those bypassing Western sanctions. 'I'm looking at it very strongly,' Trump said regarding the legislation. Trump confirmed that he had formally approved a new package of weapons for Ukraine, aimed at helping Kiev counter intensifying Russian military pressure. 'We're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I've approved that,' he said, one day after signaling the administration's intent to step up material support for Ukrainian forces. His remarks follow reports of a temporary Pentagon pause in critical military aid shipments, which had sparked alarm in Kiev. Ukrainian officials warned last week that delays in US deliveries risked leaving their forces vulnerable amid escalating Russian airstrikes and advances on the eastern front. Seated next to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth during the briefing, Trump was asked who had authorized the weapons pause. He deflected the question, responding: 'I don't know. Why don't you tell me?' Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that any shipments containing weapons for Ukraine would be considered legitimate military targets by Moscow. The Russian Foreign Ministry further stated that NATO member states were "playing with fire" by continuing to supply arms to Ukraine, asserting that increasing Western arms deliveries to Ukraine undermine negotiations and escalate tensions. Lavrov added that the US and NATO are not merely supplying weapons but are also directly involved in the war through training Ukrainian personnel in countries including the UK, Germany, and Italy. Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, is expected to meet with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at an international assistance conference in Rome. This will be followed by additional meetings in Kiev over the coming week, the report reports from Politico indicate that US military deliveries to Kiev may resume following a series of meetings in Italy and Ukraine. The recent pause in support was attributed to the Pentagon's standard review of all military aid provided by the US globally, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt. On July 2, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly confirmed the suspension of certain supplies, including ammunition and anti-aircraft missiles, citing the need to prioritize "America's interests." Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded by saying that a reduction in arms deliveries to Ukraine would end the war sooner.
Fox News
2 days ago
- Politics
- Fox News
US will 'have to' send weapons to Ukraine, Trump says days after Pentagon pause
President Donald Trump on Monday said that his administration would be sending defensive weapons to Ukraine so the war-torn country could defend itself from Russia's ongoing invasion, an apparent turnaround after the Pentagon said last week it was pausing such deliveries. His comments came as Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 11 civilians and injured more than 80 others, including seven children, officials said Monday. "We have to," Trump said when questioned at the start of a dinner he was hosting at the White House for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. "They have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard now. We're going to send some more weapons — defensive weapons primarily." PENTAGON HALTS SOME WEAPONS SHIPMENTS TO UKRAINE OVER CONCERNS ABOUT US STOCKPILES Russia continues to advance and now currently controls just under a fifth of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, all of Luhansk, the lion's share of three other regions and slivers of three additional regions. Trump's repeated efforts to broker a ceasefire have not been successful, and the president continued to vent his frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who continues to escalate military actions. "I'm not happy with President Putin at all," Trump said. The Defense Department later said it would send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine at Trump's direction, to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while efforts continue to secure a lasting peace. "Our framework for POTUS to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said. Ukraine has been asking Washington to sell it more Patriot missiles and systems that it sees as key to defending its cities from intensifying Russian air strikes. Last week the Pentagon froze some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot missile interceptors and 155 mm artillery shells, at a pivotal moment in Kyiv's war with Russia, Fox News confirmed. According to U.S. military officials tracking the shipments, the weapons were already staged in Poland before the order came down. TRUMP SHARES SYMPATHETIC EXCHANGE WITH UKRAINIAN JOURNALIST WHOSE HUSBAND IS FIGHTING IN WAR It came as Russia launched its largest aerial attack of the war, nearly 500 drones and 60 missiles. In response to Trump's comments, the Kremlin said it would need time to clarify the specifics of U.S. weapons aid to Ukraine with Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said there were many contradictory statements about U.S. weapons supplies to Ukraine, though it was clear that European weapons deliveries were continuing. "Obviously, supplies are continuing, that's clear. Obviously, the Europeans are actively involved in pumping Ukraine full of weapons," Peskov said, according to Reuters. "As for what kind of supplies and in what quantity Ukraine continues to receive from the United States, it will still take time to clarify this definitively," he added. Peskov said that Moscow appreciated Trump's efforts to initiate direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, and that there was significant potential for restarting Russian-U.S. trade and economic relations. CLICK TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Separately, Russia's transport minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in what authorities said was an apparent suicide — news that broke hours after the Kremlin announced he had been dismissed by Putin, per The Associated Press. Russian media have reported that his dismissal could have been linked to an investigation into the embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in the Kursk region, where he served as governor before being appointed transportation minister. The firing of Starovoit followed a weekend of travel chaos — airports grounded hundreds of flights due to the threat of drone attacks from Ukraine. Russian officials did not give a reason for his dismissal. Fox News' Jasmine Baehr and Jennifer Griffin as well as The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this report.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump escalates criticism of Putin, rearms Ukraine, as Russia's war plows on
WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump's patience with Vladimir Putin is fraying as Moscow intensifies attacks on Ukraine and the Russian leader ignores Trump's demands to settle the 3-year-old war. Using his most forceful language yet, Trump accused Putin of throwing "bulls--t" his way and said he'd be looking "very strongly" at sanctions legislation he once criticized as harsh − less than a day after overturning a Pentagon decision to withhold some weapons shipments to Ukraine. "He's not treating human beings right. He's killing too many people," Trump said. "So we're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine." Trump did not approve the weapons pause, two sources with knowledge of the situation said. And the president told reporters during the Cabinet meeting after he unleashed on Putin that he did not know who did. Trump's decision to resume supplying Ukraine against an onslaught of Russian drone and missile attacks reverses a Pentagon decision last week amid concerns of dwindling stocks of crucial weapons. Last week, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon's chief spokesman, said the pause in shipments to Ukraine and other countries was being done to assure military aid 'aligns with our defense priorities.' But after Trump announced arms shipments to Ukraine would resume, Parnell issued a statement that said while the framework of the review remains in effect, at Trump's direction, the Pentagon 'is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops.' The Defense Department has not informed Congress that key weapons like Patriot interceptors are in critically short supply, a U.S. official briefed on the situation said. At a State Department news briefing, spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the United States has been and remains behind Ukraine. "The president feels obviously very passionate and determined regarding the ability of Ukraine to defend itself," she said. Trump's criticism of Putin has escalated as he nears the six-month mark in his term, in spite of the Russian leader's attempts to entice him with economic partnerships and even an exchange of movies "promoting traditional values," a Kremlin readout of the two leaders' most recent conversation shows. Trump said in late May that Putin was "playing with fire" and had gone "absolutely crazy," as he speculated that Russia wants to lay claim to all of Ukraine. The next month he said the war had been "more difficult" to resolve than other conflicts and called Putin "misguided." In a call July 3, Putin informed Trump he was willing to participate in negotiations but would not back down from his goals. Trump told reporters several days later, after a separate call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that he was disappointed with the outcome. 'We have to': Trump sending weapons to Ukraine after expressing disappointment with Putin At his Cabinet meeting July 8 Trump used the most colorful language yet to describe his frustrations with Russian leader. "We get a lot of bulls--t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth," Trump said. "He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.' That night, Zelenskyy said Ukraine mainly expected to receive air defense supplies. He added that he had instructed his defense team "to intensify all contacts" with their American counterparts. "We now have the necessary political statements and decisions, and we must implement them as quickly as possible to protect our people and our positions," Zelenskyy announced July 8. Ukraine needs defense missiles most urgently, especially those fired by the Pentagon's Patriot system. They can intercept Russian missiles that have targeted the capital, Kyiv. Patriot interceptors and other weapons awaiting shipment to Ukraine had been held up in Poland last week when the Pentagon announced a worldwide review of its arsenals. The Pentagon appears to have enough of the interceptors and other air defense weapons to continue supplying Ukraine, a U.S. official briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly said. It can begin immediate shipments of weapons in greater supply, such as artillery shells and anti-tank and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, the official said. The Army, which produces the most munitions of the military's branches, said stockpiles are at an acceptable level, but it acknowledged that ramping up production of ammunition and Patriot interceptors is 'difficult.' Increasing production of Patriots, which are especially vital to Ukraine's defense, 'presents challenges,' Steve Warren, an Army spokesperson, told reporters July 8. The Army now produces 40,000 155mm shells of ammunition every month, but it is working toward increasing that number to 100,000 by mid-2026, he said. Warren said the question of how much weaponry the United States should have at any given time is 'unanswerable.' 'We are confident we have what we need to meet battlefield threats,' he said. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patience fraying, Trump hammers Putin, offers Ukraine a lifeline
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump caught off guard by DOD pause on Ukraine arms deliveries: Report
President Donald Trump's decision to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine came after he privately expressed frustration with Pentagon officials for announcing a pause in some deliveries last week — a move that he felt wasn't properly coordinated with the White House, according to three people familiar with the matter. The Pentagon, which announced last week that it would hold back some air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons pledged to Ukraine because of what U.S. officials said were concerns that American stockpiles were in short supply. Trump said Monday that the U.S. will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, effectively reversing the move. Two of the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity about the sensitive internal discussions, said there was some internal opposition among Pentagon brass to the pause — coordinated by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby — before it was announced. One of the people described Trump as being caught 'flat footed' by the announcement. The White House did not respond to queries about whether Trump was surprised by the Pentagon pause. The pause in critical weapons deliveries had come at a difficult moment for Ukraine, which has faced increasing — and more complex — air barrages from Russia during the more than three-year-old war. Trump acknowledged that in announcing the reversal on Monday night, saying, 'They have to be able to defend themselves. They're getting hit very hard now.' Asked by a reporter Tuesday who approved the pause, Trump bristled at the question while he was gathered with his Cabinet. 'I don't know. Why don't you tell me?' The president also laid into Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting he was unnecessarily prolonging the war that Trump has said he's determined to quickly conclude. Trump has struggled to find a resolution, with talks between the sides stalled. The Republican leader has sounded increasingly exasperated with Putin in recent days. The two spoke by phone last week. 'We get a lot of bull---- thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,' Trump said during Tuesday's Cabinet meeting. 'He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.' He has threatened, but held off on, imposing new sanctions against Russia's oil industry to try to prod Putin into peace talks. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said last week that Trump has given him the go-ahead to push forward with a bill he's co-sponsoring that calls, in part, for a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russian oil. The move would have huge ramifications for China and India, two economic behemoths that buy Russian oil. Trump said Tuesday that he's 'looking at it very strongly.' The weapons pause announced last week impacted shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds and more, taking not only Ukrainian officials and other allies by surprise but also U.S. lawmakers and other parts of the Trump administration, including the State Department. The Pentagon said late Monday that at Trump's direction, it would resume weapons shipments to Ukraine 'to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops.' Still, spokesman Sean Parnell added that its review for Trump to evaluate military shipments worldwide continues as part of 'America First' defense priorities. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth consulted with the White House prior to pausing weapons shipments and whether or not those shipments have now resumed. It's also unclear which weaponry would now be sent, though Trump said that the U.S. will primarily be assisting Ukraine with defensive weapons. On Tuesday, each of the services and the combatant commands — the multiservice organizations that spearhead U.S. military operations around the world — were still sending up information on their stockpiles of specific munitions to Pentagon leadership, a U.S. official said. 'They are literally still doing the math,' the official said. The information was being presented on a stoplight chart — where munitions were either in a red, yellow or green status, similar to slides that had been created the week before, the official said. That earlier study had concluded that some munitions were OK to keep sending to Ukraine — but others were reaching concerning levels. Getting a full visibility on the numbers of actual munitions on hand takes time, the official said, because while Patriot missiles, for example, initially belong to the Army, once they are requested and sent to a combatant command, such as U.S. Central Command, the service loses visibility on those numbers in inventory. The vast majority of the munitions and weapons the U.S. has shipped to Ukraine have been pulled from the Army, which has monitored levels closely in recent years, particularly for high-demand items like 155mm artillery shells and Patriot missiles for air defenses. It's been harder for the Army to ramp up production on those items than had been planned: It was trying to hit a goal of producing 100,000 155mm shells a month by the end of 2025 but won't meet that goal now until 2026, Army spokesman Steve Warren said. Ramping up Patriot missile production also has been challenging, Warren said. Sen. Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement Tuesday that he was glad Trump was resuming deliveries to Ukraine. 'This time, the President will need to reject calls from the isolationists and restrainers within his Administration to limit these deliveries to defensive weapons,' McConnell said. 'And he should disregard those at DoD who invoke munitions shortages to block aid while refusing to invest seriously in expanding munitions production.' Associated Press writers Lisa Mascaro and Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
