President Donald Trump has pledged to send more weapons to Ukraine in a move that has drawn strong criticism from Russia, which warned the action would only prolong the ongoing war.
The Kremlin issued a statement through its spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, cautioning against further military aid to Ukraine.
“It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution,” Peskov said during a briefing with Russian news agencies.
Trump’s remarks came just days after Washington announced a temporary halt in some arms shipments to Kyiv, leaving Ukrainian officials confused and urgently seeking clarification.
Addressing journalists at the White House on Monday, Trump said, “We’re going to have to send more weapons — defensive weapons primarily.” He added, “They’re getting hit very, very hard,” referring to Ukraine, while also noting he was “not happy” with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
According to the US news outlet, Axios, Trump has reportedly committed to dispatching 10 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine as part of renewed support.
Russia recently claimed to have made new advances, announcing the capture of Dachne village in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region — a significant industrial hub. Moscow described the development as a strategic gain following months of effort. The Ukrainian military, however, denied Russia had established any foothold in the region, asserting that their forces “repelled” attacks, including “in the vicinity” of Dachne.
Military analyst Oleksiy Kopytko acknowledged the intense pressure in the region. “Our troops are holding their ground quite steadily,” he said, while describing the situation in Dnipropetrovsk as “difficult.”
Dnipropetrovsk, unlike Donetsk, Kherson, Lugansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea, is not one of the territories Russia claims as its own.
The U.S. had previously committed over $65 billion in military support to Ukraine under former President Joe Biden. However, since Trump’s return to office in January, no new aid packages have been announced until now. The White House stated last week that the suspension of some Biden-era aid was part of a review of U.S. defense priorities.
Trump has also continued to push for peace negotiations, including calls to Putin. The Russian leader, however, has refused any ceasefire unless Ukraine surrenders more territory.
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine reiterated the importance of air defense, saying it remained the “top priority for protecting lives” and expressing hope that partners would “fully deliver on what we have agreed.”
