Trump pledges to continue delivering arms to Ukraine

(MENAFN)
President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will restart weapons shipments to Ukraine, just a week after the Pentagon suspended some deliveries. Speaking during a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday, Trump emphasized the urgency of aiding Ukraine.

“We’re going to send more weapons — we have to,” Trump said. “They need to be able to defend themselves. They’re taking heavy hits. It’s a terrible situation with so many lives lost.” He clarified that the focus would be on “primarily defensive weapons.”

Following Trump’s comments, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed the move, stating that additional defensive arms would be sent to Ukraine. However, he noted that a broader review of global arms shipments is still ongoing as part of the administration’s “America First” defense strategy.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the initial pause last week, citing concerns over declining U.S. stockpiles. White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly explained the decision was based on prioritizing national interests and reassessing U.S. military aid abroad.

Parnell emphasized that the review includes all munitions exports, not just those destined for Ukraine. “We can’t keep arming the entire world,” he said last Wednesday.

Ukraine responded by summoning U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Ginkel in Kiev, warning that any delays in military support could embolden Russia.

Unlike former President Joe Biden, Trump has resumed direct dialogue with Russia and is working to broker a ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev. However, the Kremlin maintains that foreign arms supplies will not deter its military goals. President Vladimir Putin recently reiterated that the West’s involvement in arming Ukraine makes them “de facto participants” in the conflict.

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