Washington, July 9 – U.S. President Donald Trump has approved the delivery of additional defensive weapons to Ukraine and is considering supporting a bipartisan Senate bill that would impose broader sanctions on Russia. The move comes amid intensifying conflict in Eastern Europe and renewed territorial claims by Moscow.
According to a report by news agency Xinhua, Trump made the announcement during a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Tuesday. He stated, "We are sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I have approved it." Expressing dissatisfaction with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump added, “I’m not happy with Putin. I can tell you that thousands of Russian and Ukrainian soldiers are dying.”
As per agency report, Trump referred to the escalating attacks by Russia on Ukrainian territory and emphasized that the newly approved shipment would primarily include defensive weapons. This announcement follows an earlier decision by the U.S. to pause a weapons shipment to Kyiv, which had caused concern among Ukrainian officials and led to requests for clarification.
Trump also confirmed that he recently spoke with President Putin over the phone, expressing his frustration over the lack of progress toward resolving the conflict. “We discussed several issues, including the Ukraine war. I am not pleased with the situation,” Trump said, highlighting that the conversation failed to yield any breakthrough.
Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov confirmed that the phone call between Trump and Putin lasted nearly an hour. A statement from the Russian Presidential Office noted that both leaders discussed the ongoing war in Ukraine, with Trump reiterating the need for a swift resolution to the conflict.
In response, President Putin maintained that Russia still seeks a political and diplomatic solution. He updated Trump on the progress made in implementing humanitarian agreements reached during the second round of Russia-Ukraine direct talks in Istanbul. Putin also reiterated Russia’s willingness to continue negotiations while affirming that the country remains committed to achieving its core strategic objectives, particularly those related to the root causes of the current conflict.
The Kremlin’s statement also mentioned that the conversation extended to include detailed discussions on Iran and the broader situation in the Middle East, reflecting the complex and interconnected geopolitical challenges facing the region.
