Trump U-turns on weapons to Ukraine

Unhappy with Putin, Trump decides the US will go back to arming Ukraine against Russia's attacks

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attends a press conference at Marselisborg Castle in Denmark
The turnaround comes amid 'warming ties' with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy
(Image credit: Ida Marie Odgaard / Ritzau Scanpix / AFP via Getty Images)

What happened

President Donald Trump Monday said the U.S. would resume sending weapons to Ukraine because "they have to be able to defend themselves" against Russia's attacks. The administration last week paused critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv, citing concerns over dwindling U.S. stockpiles. But in recent days, Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress in ending the more than three-year war. "I'm not happy with President Putin at all," Trump told reporters at the White House Monday.

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Jessica Hullinger

Jessica Hullinger is a writer and former deputy editor of The Week Digital. Originally from the American Midwest, she completed a degree in journalism at Indiana University Bloomington before relocating to New York City, where she pursued a career in media. After joining The Week as an intern in 2010, she served as the title’s audience development manager, senior editor and deputy editor, as well as a regular guest on “The Week Unwrapped” podcast. Her writing has featured in other publications including Popular Science, Fast Company, Fortune, and Self magazine, and she loves covering science and climate-related issues.