Politicians in Kyiv have welcomed Donald Trump’s pledge to provide billions of pounds worth of US military equipment to Ukraine, whilst officials in Moscow largely dismissed his threats of economic sanctions as bluster. In a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House, Mr Trump confirmed that the US would send Patriot air defence systems and interceptor missiles, funded by European allies. The move, he said, would see Germany and other NATO partners finance a significant shipment of weaponry, with some batteries expected to arrive in Ukraine within days.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to Mr Trump in his nightly video address, stating he was thankful for the support in protecting Ukrainian lives. He also described a recent meeting with Keith Kellogg, Mr Trump’s special representative to Ukraine, as “productive.” Ukrainian officials broadly echoed the sentiment, with one senior security council member summing up the response in a single word: “Cool.” Relations between Kyiv and Washington appear to have improved markedly following a difficult Oval Office encounter between the two leaders earlier this year.
However, scepticism remains among some Ukrainian politicians and analysts. Critics argue the 50-day ultimatum issued to Russia, backed by the threat of sanctions, may do little to deter the Kremlin’s ongoing offensive. Independent MP Mariana Bezuhla, a frequent critic of President Zelenskyy, described the announcement as a hollow gesture, claiming Mr Trump had effectively given President Putin carte blanche to advance further into eastern Ukraine. Others questioned whether the package would carry enough weight to meaningfully shift dynamics on the battlefield.
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Meanwhile, Russian officials and pro-Kremlin commentators were quick to downplay the impact of Mr Trump’s remarks. Senior lawmaker Konstantin Kosachev described the threat as “hot air,” adding that much could change in the coming weeks. Popular military blogger Yuri Podolyaka noted that Trump’s stance could shift several times in 50 days, while Moscow’s main stock index surged by over 2.5% following the announcement. Although some in Russia noted a shift in tone from Mr Trump’s historically cordial approach to President Putin, many saw the declaration as less severe than feared. In Ukraine, however, there was a sense of regret that stronger support had not arrived sooner, particularly as Russian missile and drone strikes continued to target civilian areas.
