Trump Pledges Patriot Missiles for Ukraine, Says EU Will Foot the Bill

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that the United States will send Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine amid escalating Russian attacks, saying Ukrainian forces urgently need more sophisticated weaponry to defend themselves. Trump added that the cost of the defense systems would be fully reimbursed by the European Union.

“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews. “He talks nice and then bombs everybody in the evening.”

Though he did not specify how many Patriot systems would be sent, Trump said the U.S. will also provide additional advanced military equipment, for which European allies will pay in full. “That’s the way we want it,” he said.

The announcement comes as Russian forces intensify aerial assaults across Ukraine, prompting renewed calls from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for more Western air defense support.

Frustration with Putin

Trump’s move signals a hardening of his stance toward Russian President Vladimir Putin. Once skeptical of prolonged U.S. involvement in the war, Trump now appears more willing to assist Ukraine after failing to broker a ceasefire.

“The problem is, I don’t like it,” Trump said of Putin’s dual-tone approach. “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow,” he added, teasing a “major statement” expected Monday.

NATO Talks and Weapon Transfers

Trump is set to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte this week to discuss a plan allowing NATO members to transfer U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine, with the understanding that they would buy replacements directly from American manufacturers.

Rutte is scheduled to meet Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and members of Congress during his two-day visit to Washington starting Monday.

Rubio noted that many of the weapons Ukraine is requesting are already deployed in Europe and could be rerouted to Ukraine more quickly under this model.

Momentum in Congress and Europe

Trump’s shift in tone has been met with bipartisan support in Congress. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), a top Trump ally, said on CBS’ Face the Nation that the war is reaching a critical “inflection point” and that weapon deliveries to Ukraine will surge.

“In the coming days, you’ll see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves,” Graham said. He added that Putin “miscalculated” by trying to manipulate Trump.

Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) echoed the urgency, saying there’s growing consensus around using $300 billion in frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. “It’s time to do it,” Blumenthal said.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, meanwhile, told La Tribune Dimanche that European nations are urging Washington to fill air defense capability gaps as they await their own resupplies.

Targeting Putin’s Economic Lifeline

Trump is also facing calls to endorse a Senate bill that would impose sweeping sanctions on Russia’s oil industry, including a proposed 500% tariff on goods from countries still buying Russian energy—such as China, India, and Brazil.

“The big offender here is China, India, and Brazil,” said Graham. “The only way you’re going to end this war is to get people who prop up Putin to make a choice—help him or access the U.S. economy.”

The bipartisan legislation, co-sponsored by Graham and Blumenthal, has strong Senate support but has stalled as lawmakers await Trump’s approval. While the White House previously voiced reservations, Trump now wants full authority to issue or lift penalties under a waiver process.

Blumenthal defended the waiver provision, saying it mirrors past measures and provides the president with a “sledgehammer” to use against Putin.

“What I think is most important right now is our unity,” he said.