Trump promises Zelenskyy Patriot missiles and calls on Europe to share air defense – talks continue
8 July 2025 14:36
US President Donald Trump has promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to promptly provide 10 interceptor missiles for Patriot air defense systems. This was reported by Axios, citing informed sources, "Komersant Ukrainian" reports.
Although this is only a fraction of the amount of supplies that were previously frozen, Trump assured that he would help Kyiv find additional sources of weapons.
According to Axios, on the eve of the conversation, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged Trump to unblock the supply of missiles and even suggested that Germany purchase Patriot batteries from the United States and give them to Ukraine. In response, Trump offered Berlin to share one of its air defense systems, sharing the costs among the allies. The parties have not reached a final agreement, but negotiations are ongoing.
Trump’s entourage says that he believes that European countries should use their own resources more actively to support Ukraine, rather than rely on Washington alone.
“Getting a Patriot is not like buying something at Walmart. They’re not on the shelf for free,” commented one of Trump’s advisors.
Earlier, the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump, during talks with Zelenskyy, said he was ready to provide Ukraine with as much military assistance “as American capabilities allow.”
Such signals from the White House came after the Trump administration suspended some of the weapons approved under Joe Biden’s presidency. However, after conversations with Zelenskyy and Putin, Trump announced the resumption of military support for Ukraine, as the country is “undergoing extremely powerful blows.”
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell confirmed these intentions, emphasizing that the goal is to help Ukrainians defend themselves while the United States works to end the war and achieve a “sustainable peace.”
What is known about the suspension of arms supplies
Reasons for the pause
– The US Department of Defense initiated a review of supplies due to the depletion of its own arsenals – especially Patriot, Stinger, shells and other high-tech munitions.
– The Pentagon justified this as an “America First” measure, focusing on protecting its own military capabilities, particularly in the event of conflicts in Southeast Asia and the Middle East.
Volumes and Types of Seized Weapons
– Paused: Patriot interceptor missiles, GMLRS, Stinger, Hellfire, 155 mm artillery shells, AIM-7, etc
– The general halt affected the supply of military equipment that did not reach Ukraine, including those still in transit.
Political motivations
– The Trump administration attributes the halt to its strategy: reconsidering peace, pressuring Kyiv to negotiate and the need for peace guarantees before continuing supplies.
– At the same time, the “pause” party is actively criticized both in the United States (senators, the Pentagon) and in Ukraine because of the threat of escalating Russian attacks.
Implications for Ukraine
– The Pause Party has launched an information campaign emphasizing the intensification of Russian missile and drone strikes that can aggressively target civilian infrastructure.
– Analysts warn that without Patriot interceptors, the number of casualties, gaps in air defense, and vulnerability of critical facilities will increase.
The situation is changing
– After President Trump’s conversations with Zelensky and Putin, the United States announced that it was resuming some supplies, including Patriot missiles (10) and other defense assistance.
– At the same time, Washington expects its allies to step up as well: Germany, Italy, and Denmark have already delivered or are ready to deliver air defense systems.
The pause in deliveries was caused by both internal US strategic considerations (preservation of arsenals, pressure on Kyiv) and external circumstances (active conflicts in the world). This underscores Ukraine’s critical need for its own air defense system and strengthens the role of EU partners in supporting Kyiv’s defense.
