Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on July 8, Trump accused Putin of making “meaningless” overtures toward peace, saying, “We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin.” It was his strongest public criticism of the Russian leader since his first election in 2016. The remarks followed a phone call with Putin that Trump later described as unproductive and disappointing.

Trump’s growing disenchantment with Moscow, combined with improved relations with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky—including at a recent meeting in The Hague—appears to have pushed the White House to restart the delivery of air defense interceptors and precision-guided weapons.

Arms Pause Ends Amid Growing Russian Attacks

The Trump administration had paused shipments of Patriot missiles, Hellfire munitions, and artillery shells in June amid Pentagon concerns over depleted U.S. stockpiles and the possibility of broader regional conflict with Iran. However, after Russia launched major airstrikes on Kyiv and other cities, the White House approved a new shipment, including:

• 30 Patriot interceptors
• 142 Hellfire missiles
• 8,500 155mm artillery shells

These weapons had been held in Poland for weeks before finally being cleared for delivery.

Despite the resumption, the Trump administration has not requested any new military aid packages for Ukraine and is facing criticism from lawmakers for the earlier pause. Senator Jeanne Shaheen called the suspension “shortsighted” and welcomed the reversal.

Internal Debate, Shifting Strategy

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed the pause was driven by logistical concerns, but Trump denied knowing who ordered it, responding, “Why don’t you tell me?” when asked by reporters. Meanwhile, NATO officials, including Secretary General Mark Rutte, praised Trump for pushing allies to increase defense spending, helping ease tensions during Zelensky’s prior encounter with the U.S. president.

Over the past two years, the Pentagon has provided over $66 billion in military support to Ukraine, drawn from stockpiles and contracts with defense firms. Yet the recent delivery—though smaller than usual—was viewed as a lifeline, particularly the Patriot missiles, which Ukraine uses to intercept Russia’s most advanced weapons.

With continued skepticism toward U.S. involvement from parts of Trump’s political base, the administration appears to be recalibrating its Ukraine policy—not with sweeping new pledges, but with selective, strategic support aimed at keeping Kyiv viable while seeking leverage over Moscow.