President Donald Trump said on Monday that the United States will resume and expand its military support to Ukraine by sending more defensive weapons, just days after pausing some deliveries.
The decision comes as Ukraine faces growing Russian attacks, including what officials in Kyiv described as the largest overnight aerial assault since the invasion began.
Speaking before a scheduled dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Trump said Ukraine is under heavy bombardment and needs additional weapons to defend itself.
His remarks follow a brief pause in aid last week, which affected shipments such as air defense missiles. That delay stemmed from an internal review of military spending and overseas support, a process overseen by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
White House officials had earlier said the temporary hold was part of a broader strategy to prioritize American defense readiness and evaluate spending, especially with increased focus on potential future threats in the Indo-Pacific region.
Elbridge Colby, the Pentagon’s top policy official, had said that any adjustments to Ukraine aid would be made with the goal of ending the war while keeping U.S. forces prepared for other defense priorities.
The announcement to restart aid came after Trump held separate phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump said his talk with Putin yielded no progress toward ending the war, while his conversation with Zelensky was described as more productive.
Following the call, Trump acknowledged that Ukraine’s requests for more air defense systems, including Patriot missiles, were being seriously considered.
Ukraine has been appealing for more help from Western allies after repeated missile and drone strikes from Russia.
On July 4, Russian forces launched over 500 aerial weapons into Kyiv, marking the largest single attack since the war began more than three years ago.
Ukrainian officials said it caused severe damage to residential areas, and rescuers were still working at the scene of collapsed buildings.
While Russia claimed that the earlier pause in American military aid was due to shortages in U.S. weapon supplies, Washington has not confirmed that.
Instead, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said on Monday that Trump had authorized new deliveries to ensure Ukraine can defend itself while peace efforts continue.
The U.S. has been the largest supplier of military support to Ukraine since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, sending tanks, air defense systems, rocket launchers, radars, and anti-armor weapons.
Trump had previously stopped all military aid to Ukraine in March following a dispute with Zelensky but reversed that decision a week later.
His latest move signals that, for now, support will continue—though with careful reviews of how and when assistance is provided.