US President Donald Trump says he wants to sell Patriot weapons systems to the European Union so they can be delivered to Ukraine. However, Washington does not want to pay for this. The next few hours could be decisive for further support for Ukraine in the war against Russia. With grandiloquent words, the Republican announced: "This will be a business deal for us, and we will send them patriots who urgently need them."
The number of weapons has not yet been determined, according to the president. "The EU is paying for it. We didn't pay anything, but we will comply," he assured. The countries that should be asked to pay remain open. Trump raised the possibility of a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Monday (10:00 a.m. local time). According to a US media report, the 79-year-old also wants to make a statement on his Russia policy today. In addition, Trump's special representative, Keith Kellogg, is expected to arrive in Kyiv today for talks.
Furthermore, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius wants to discuss greater support for Ukraine in Washington. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had already announced a few days ago in Rome that Germany wants to purchase Patriot air defense systems from the US to make them available to Ukraine in the war against Russia. Ukraine is demanding more Western air defense assistance to counter massive Russian drone and missile attacks.
US Senator Hints at Possible Change in Russia's Course. Influential Republican US Senator Lindsey Graham held out the prospect of a possible change in Russia policy even before Trump's latest announcement on Patriot deliveries. "A turning point in the Russian invasion of Ukraine is imminent," he told the US television network CBS on Sunday. For months, Trump has been trying to bring Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
"He has kept the door open regarding Russia; that door is about to close," Graham continued. Putin had hoped that the US and Europe would tire. "He made a big mistake." The US president himself had also expressed growing disappointment with Putin for resisting Trump's attempts to negotiate a ceasefire. "We will send them patriots who are in dire need, because Putin has really surprised a lot of people. He talks a good game and then bombs everyone at night," Trump said on Sunday.
"But there's one little problem. I don't like that." Pistorius Travels to Washington Defense Minister Pistorius wants to discuss increased support for Ukraine and military cooperation within NATO with his US counterpart, Pete Hegseth, in Washington. This is his first visit to the United States since the administration of US President Donald Trump took office in January. NATO Secretary General Rutte wants to meet with Trump for talks. Meetings with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Minister Hegseth are also planned.
Zelensky: Counting on the United States Faced with possible changes in US policy, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hoped for "positive changes" for his country's interests. Ukraine's top military officials have been instructed to present US special envoy Kellogg with all "available information on Russia's potential and our prospects," Zelenskyy described in his evening video address. Intelligence services would also provide Kellogg with "full information." "We also count on the United States to fully understand what can be done to force Russia to make peace."
