Trump Reverses Course, Resumes U.S. Weapons Shipments to Ukraine Amid Intensifying Russian Assaults and Kremlin Turmoil

President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the Blue Room of the White House, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Washington.

President Donald Trump announced Monday that the United States will resume military aid to Ukraine, reversing a recent decision to pause shipments of critical air defense systems and precision-guided weaponry. The shift in policy comes amid mounting Russian strikes on Ukrainian civilian targets and deepening instability within the Kremlin, marked by the apparent suicide of Russia’s transport minister.

“We have to,” Trump said. “They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now. We’re going to send some more weapons — defensive weapons primarily.”

The previous pause in aid included Patriot missiles, GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles, and Howitzer artillery rounds. That decision had shocked Ukrainian officials and NATO allies, especially as Ukraine faces a wave of increasingly complex aerial assaults from Russian forces.

Late Monday, the Pentagon confirmed that weapons shipments will resume following Trump’s directive, emphasizing that the United States aims to ensure Ukraine can “defend itself while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops.” Defense spokesperson Sean Parnell stated that a global review of military aid remains ongoing as part of the administration’s “America First” strategy.

The announcement came at the start of a White House dinner hosted by Trump for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. In his remarks, Trump expressed growing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin. While Trump has avoided implementing new sanctions on Russia’s oil sector, he continues to seek leverage to bring Putin to the negotiating table.

Senator Lindsey Graham confirmed that Trump gave his approval to advance legislation that would impose a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries purchasing Russian oil — a move aimed at pressuring major Russian oil buyers such as China and India.

“I’m not happy with President Putin at all,” Trump said Monday.

Russian Transport Minister Dies After Dismissal

The Kremlin was rocked Monday by the death of Transport Minister Roman Starovoit, 53, who was found with a gunshot wound in a car outside Moscow hours after being dismissed by President Putin. Russian authorities said the circumstances suggest suicide, and an investigation is underway.

Starovoit had served as governor of the Kursk region prior to his appointment in May 2024. He reportedly faced scrutiny over alleged embezzlement of government funds meant for constructing fortifications in the region — failures that have been blamed for allowing a surprise Ukrainian incursion in August 2024.

Travel chaos also marked the weekend of his dismissal, with hundreds of flights canceled or delayed in Moscow and St. Petersburg amid rising threats from Ukrainian drone strikes. Officials have not confirmed if the air traffic disruption played a role in Starovoit’s dismissal.

Russia Ramps Up Air Attacks as Ukraine Pleads for Aid

Russian drone and missile strikes have escalated dramatically. Ukrainian officials reported more than 1,270 drones, 39 missiles, and nearly 1,000 glide bombs launched by Russian forces over the past week. On Monday alone, Russia fired over 100 drones, with multiple cities across Ukraine coming under attack.

At least 11 civilians were killed and more than 80 injured across several regions. In Kharkiv, 71 people were wounded during two waves of drone strikes. One person was killed in Odesa, and falling debris caused damage in Kyiv. In Sumy, short-range drones killed two and wounded two others. In Donetsk, nine were injured and seven killed, according to local officials.

Ukraine’s military also reported renewed Russian attacks on military mobilization centers — the third such targeting in five days — likely aimed at disrupting enlistment and weakening Ukraine’s ability to replenish its forces.

Kyiv Accelerates Drone Production in Response to Delays

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Ukraine has secured new defense agreements with European allies and a major U.S. defense contractor to dramatically increase domestic drone production. “Air defense is the main thing for protecting life,” Zelenskyy said Monday, adding that Kyiv expects to receive hundreds of thousands of drones this year.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense is also developing interceptors to counter long-range Shahed drones used extensively by Russian forces. Officials say the ramp-up in drone production is crucial to offset manpower shortages and defend against persistent air assaults.

The White House said the temporary pause in aid was part of a broader defense audit ordered by Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to align military support with U.S. strategic interests. However, officials have confirmed that Ukraine remains a top priority.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces shot down 91 Ukrainian drones overnight across 13 regions and over the Black Sea and Crimea. The contested peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014, remains a focal point in the ongoing war.