WASHINGTON − President Donald Trump’s patience with Vladimir Putin is fraying as Moscow intensifies attacks on Ukraine and the Russian leader ignores Trump’s demands to settle the 3-year-old war.
Using his most forceful language yet, Trump accused Putin of throwing “bulls–t” his way and said he’d be looking “very strongly” at sanctions legislation he once criticized as harsh − less than a day after overturning a Pentagon decision to withhold some weapons shipments to Ukraine.
“He’s not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people,” Trump said. “So we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine.”
Trump did not approve the weapons pause, two sources with knowledge of the situation said. And the president told reporters during the Cabinet meeting after he unleashed on Putin that he did not know who did.
Trump’s decision to resume supplying Ukraine against an onslaught of Russian drone and missile attacks reverses a Pentagon decision last week amid concerns of dwindling stocks of crucial weapons.
Last week, Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesman, said the pause in shipments to Ukraine and other countries was being done to assure military aid “aligns with our defense priorities.”
But after Trump announced arms shipments to Ukraine would resume, Parnell issued a statement that said while the framework of the review remains in effect, at Trump’s direction, the Pentagon “is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops.”
The Defense Department has not informed Congress that key weapons like Patriot interceptors are in critically short supply, a U.S. official briefed on the situation said.
At a State Department news briefing, spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said the United States has been and remains behind Ukraine. “The president feels obviously very passionate and determined regarding the ability of Ukraine to defend itself,” she said.
Trump’s war of words with Putin
Trump’s criticism of Putin has escalated as he nears the six-month mark in his term, in spite of the Russian leader’s attempts to entice him with economic partnerships and even an exchange of movies “promoting traditional values,” a Kremlin readout of the two leaders’ most recent conversation shows.
Trump said in late May that Putin was “playing with fire” and had gone “absolutely crazy,” as he speculated that Russia wants to lay claim to all of Ukraine. The next month he said the war had been “more difficult” to resolve than other conflicts and called Putin “misguided.”
In a call July 3, Putin informed Trump he was willing to participate in negotiations but would not back down from his goals. Trump told reporters several days later, after a separate call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, that he was disappointed with the outcome.
‘We have to’: Trump sending weapons to Ukraine after expressing disappointment with Putin
At his Cabinet meeting July 8 Trump used the most colorful language yet to describe his frustrations with Russian leader.
“We get a lot of bulls–t thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump said. “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Ukraine seeks air defense weapons
That night, Zelenskyy said Ukraine mainly expected to receive air defense supplies. He added that he had instructed his defense team “to intensify all contacts” with their American counterparts.
“We now have the necessary political statements and decisions, and we must implement them as quickly as possible to protect our people and our positions,” Zelenskyy announced July 8.
Ukraine needs defense missiles most urgently, especially those fired by the Pentagon’s Patriot system. They can intercept Russian missiles that have targeted the capital, Kyiv.
Patriot interceptors and other weapons awaiting shipment to Ukraine had been held up in Poland last week when the Pentagon announced a worldwide review of its arsenals.
The Pentagon appears to have enough of the interceptors and other air defense weapons to continue supplying Ukraine, a U.S. official briefed on the matter but not authorized to speak publicly said. It can begin immediate shipments of weapons in greater supply, such as artillery shells and anti-tank and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missiles, the official said.
Ramping up munitions production ‘difficult’
The Army, which produces the most munitions of the military’s branches, said stockpiles are at an acceptable level, but it acknowledged that ramping up production of ammunition and Patriot interceptors is “difficult.”
Increasing production of Patriots, which are especially vital to Ukraine’s defense, “presents challenges,” Steve Warren, an Army spokesperson, told reporters July 8. The Army now produces 40,000 155mm shells of ammunition every month, but it is working toward increasing that number to 100,000 by mid-2026, he said.
Warren said the question of how much weaponry the United States should have at any given time is “unanswerable.”
“We are confident we have what we need to meet battlefield threats,” he said.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Patience fraying, Trump hammers Putin, offers Ukraine a lifeline
