Trump's Ukraine U-turn: US to announce aggressive weapons plan for Kyiv; what it means

President Donald Trump is set to unveil a new and more aggressive plan to arm Ukraine, marking a significant change in his administration’s approach to the ongoing war with Russia. According to two sources who spoke to Axios, the package is expected to include offensive weapons, long-range missiles, and sophisticated systems such as Patriot air defence batteries.

The announcement is expected Monday, coinciding with a series of high-level meetings, including Trump’s scheduled talks with Nato Secretary General Mark Rutte and a new visit to Ukraine by the US special envoy. Trump’s move comes just days after the Pentagon paused some weapons deliveries to Ukraine, citing concerns about dwindling US stockpiles. Now, with Trump’s renewed commitment, the weapons are expected to start flowing again.

“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump told reporters on Sunday at Joint Base Andrews. “I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection.”

This would represent a major departure from Trump’s previous stance. For months, he resisted escalating the conflict by limiting U.S. support to defensive weapons only. But as his frustration with Vladimir Putin grows, that calculus appears to be shifting.

“Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” Trump said, signalling his growing disillusionment with the Russian president. “We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military and they're going to pay us 100 percent for them… It'll be business for us.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said the two countries were “close to reaching a multi-level agreement on new Patriot systems and missiles,” and described his summit meeting with Trump as their “best so far.”

Meanwhile, Congress is also stepping up pressure. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said a bipartisan bill would give Trump the power to impose “500 percent tariffs” on any country aiding Russia, calling it a “sledgehammer” to end the war. Trump hinted at possible sanctions, saying, “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow.”