US President Donald Trump has announced plans to send Patriot missile defence systems to Ukraine, saying the country “desperately” needs them to defend against ongoing Russian attacks.
Trump confirmed the decision on Sunday, adding that the European Union will reimburse the United States for the full cost of the missiles.
“They are going to pay us 100% for that, and that’s the way we want it,” Trump told reporters, while criticising Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “He talks nice but then he bombs everybody in the evening.”
The announcement marks a shift in Trump’s recent approach to Ukraine. Just two weeks ago, the US paused some arms deliveries to Kyiv, raising concerns among allies. However, relations between Trump and Putin have reportedly soured following continued Russian missile strikes on Ukraine.
US Senate Pushes for New Russia Sanctions
At the same time, US senators are pushing a bipartisan sanctions bill that would give Trump strong new tools to target Russia’s economy. Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican and close ally of Trump, said on Sunday the bill has majority support in the Senate.
“This will allow President Trump to go after Putin’s economy and all those countries who prop up the Putin war machine,” Graham told CBS News. Trump has indicated he is open to the sanctions proposal, expressing repeated “disappointment” with Putin over recent deadly missile attacks on Ukraine.
NATO and European Pressure for Air Defences
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is scheduled to meet Trump in Washington this week to discuss the ongoing conflict. Trump has also announced plans to sell weapons to NATO allies, which could then be passed on to Ukraine.
France’s defence minister, Sebastien Lecornu, said European officials have been urging the Trump administration to send more air defence systems to Ukraine. He warned that France is currently facing a “capacity gap” and cannot provide new ground-to-air missiles until next year.
Ukraine Security Service Eliminates Russian Agents
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s SBU security service said it has tracked down and killed Russian agents accused of assassinating one of their colonels, Ivan Voronich, in Kyiv last Thursday.
The SBU said a special operation was carried out on Sunday morning, resulting in the deaths of at least two Russian agents who resisted arrest. The agency shared video footage showing two bodies.
According to the SBU, the assassins—a man and a woman—had monitored Voronich’s daily routine to plan the killing.
Gunfire at Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant
The UN’s International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported hearing hundreds of rounds of small arms fire at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, which is under Russian control.
The shooting occurred late Saturday night and continued for about an hour. The IAEA said the incident was “unusual” and is investigating further.
Russia and China Discuss Ukraine
In Beijing, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Sunday to discuss Ukraine and relations with the US. Lavrov’s visit to China followed a trip to North Korea, where he reportedly received assurances of support for Russia’s position in the conflict.
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