President Donald Trump said Monday the United States will have to send more weapons to Ukraine, marking an apparent reversal just days after the Pentagon paused critical arms deliveries amid concerns about depleted American stockpiles.
“We have to,” Trump told reporters when asked about additional weapons deliveries for Ukraine. “They have to be able to defend themselves.”
The comments represent a striking shift from last week’s decision to halt shipments of air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery and other weapons to Ukraine. The pause had drawn sharp criticism from both parties and came as Russia intensified its aerial assault on Ukrainian civilians, killing at least 11 and injuring more than 80 others in overnight attacks.
Russian Transport Minister Found Dead
The president’s reversal came hours after Russian authorities announced the death of Transport Minister Roman Starovoit in an apparent suicide, just after President Vladimir Putin had dismissed him from his post. The 53-year-old was found dead in his car with a gunshot wound in Odintsovo, a Moscow suburb where many Russian elites live.
Russia’s Investigative Committee said a gun previously presented to Starovoit as an official gift was found next to his body. The main preliminary cause of death is suicide,” committee spokeswoman Svetlana Petrenko said.
The Kremlin did not provide a reason for Starovoit’s dismissal, though Russian media reported it could be linked to an investigation into embezzlement of state funds allocated for building fortifications in the Kursk region, where he previously served as governor.
Pentagon Stockpile Concerns
The Pentagon confirmed last week it was pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had ordered the pause following a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles.
This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said at the time.
Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell defended the pause Wednesday, stating: “I think that for a long time, four years under the Biden administration, we were giving away weapons and munitions without really thinking about how many we have.
Ukraine Under Intensified Attack
Russia has dramatically escalated its attacks on Ukrainian civilian areas in recent days. In the past week alone, Russia launched approximately 1,270 drones, 39 missiles and almost 1,000 powerful glide bombs at Ukraine, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Russia launched more than 100 drones at civilian areas of Ukraine overnight,” authorities reported Monday. The attacks killed one person in Odesa, another in Kharkiv where 71 were injured, and caused significant damage in two districts of Kyiv from falling drone debris.
Russian short-range drones also killed two people and injured two others in the northern Sumy region, where Russia has concentrated large numbers of troops. Nine additional people were injured and seven killed in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine.
Strategic Implications
The timing of the weapons pause had raised particular concerns given Russia’s increased attacks. The Institute for the Study of War noted that previous delays in U.S. aid deliveries have “invariably accelerated Russian gains on the battlefield.
The suspension of US aid to Ukraine will reinforce Russian President Vladimir Putin’s theory of victory that posits that Russia can win the war of attrition by making slow, creeping advances and outlasting Western support for Ukraine,” the ISW stated in its analysis.
Ukraine’s defense ministry emphasized Wednesday that it “has not received any official notifications about the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules for the agreed defence assistance.”
Congressional Reaction
The pause drew immediate criticism from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pa., co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, requested a briefing from the White House and Pentagon to explain the decision.
We must build up our own defense industrial base here in the U.S.,” Fitzpatrick wrote in a letter to Trump, while emphasizing the importance of continued support for Ukraine.
Mike Pompeo, who served as Secretary of State during Trump’s first term, posted on X: “Ukraine has never asked America to send in the 82nd airborne; they’ve asked for the weapons to defend their homeland and people from Russia attacks.”
European Support Continues
As questions swirled about U.S. commitment, European allies have stepped up their support. According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, Europe has now surpassed the U.S. in total military aid to Ukraine, contributing 72 billion euros ($85 billion) compared to America’s 65 billion euros ($76.6 billion).
Zelenskyy announced Saturday that Ukraine had signed deals with European allies and a leading U.S. defense company to boost drone production, ensuring Kyiv receives “hundreds of thousands” more this year, including interceptor drones capable of stopping Russia’s long-range Shahed drones.
Starovoit’s Troubled Legacy
Starovoit’s death adds to a pattern of high-profile Russian officials facing corruption charges related to the war effort. His successor as Kursk governor, Alexei Smirnov, was arrested on embezzlement charges in April and reportedly testified against Starovoit in the investigation.
The alleged embezzlement has been cited as contributing to deficiencies in Russia’s defensive lines that failed to stop Ukraine’s surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024 — the first occupation of Russian territory by a foreign force since World War II.
Russian authorities have investigated numerous corruption cases blamed for military setbacks in Ukraine. Last week, former Deputy Defense Minister Timur Ivanov was convicted on embezzlement and money laundering charges and sentenced to 13 years in prison.
What Happens Next
Trump’s apparent reversal on weapons deliveries comes as he continues diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The president claimed Friday that “we think within the next week we’re going to get a ceasefire,” though he provided no details to support his optimism.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt emphasized Monday that bringing an end to the Gaza conflict remains a priority, stating administration officials maintain constant communication with Ukrainian leadership. It’s heartbreaking to see the images that have come out from both Israel and Gaza throughout this war, and the president wants to see it end,” Leavitt said.
As Ukraine faces mounting Russian attacks with potentially reduced American support, the coming days will prove critical in determining whether Trump’s stated commitment to continued weapons deliveries materializes into concrete action.
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