Donald Trump has said the US will send Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, saying they are “desperately” needed to shield the country from intensifying Russian air strikes.
In his most explicit comments yet about the prospect of sending the sophisticated weaponry to Ukraine, Trump suggested that the European allies would pay for the weapons as he renewed his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they are going to have some, because they do need protection,” Trump told reporters late on Sunday. “But we will send . . . we will send them Patriots, which they desperately need, because Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening.”