Trump promises to provide Ukraine with Patriot systems - Reuters

Donald Trump said that the United States will provide Ukraine with Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems because Kyiv "desperately needs them" and russian leader vladimir putin "talks nice, but then bombs everyone in the evening."

According to Reuters, speaking to reporters at Andrews Air Force Base near Washington, the US President said: "We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because putin has really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice, and then bombs everyone in the evening. But there is a little problem here. I don't like it...".

He added that the United States plans to transfer various units of sophisticated military equipment to Ukraine, but Kyiv, according to him, must pay for their cost in full: "We are, in essence, going to send them various units of very sophisticated military equipment. They will pay us 100% for it, and that is how we want it."

Trump did not specify the number of Patriot systems he plans to transfer to Ukraine, but noted that the US costs for them will be compensated by the European Union. He also announced plans to meet this week with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukraine and other issues.

As Ukrainian News Agency earlier reported, Politico, citing two anonymous sources, reported that Donald Trump is considering providing a new military aid package for Ukraine worth hundreds of millions of dollars. The aid shipment came a week after the Pentagon suddenly stopped part of the previously allocated weapons, which included thousands of artillery shells and precision-guided munitions.

Meanwhile, Republican Senator from South Carolina Lindsey Graham predicts that Ukraine will receive record amounts of weapons in the coming days to protect against russian aggression.