Why Did Trump Agree to Send Patriots to Ukraine?

Donald Trump’s decision to send Ukraine additional defensive weapons marked a turning point in his foreign policy and came after several days of intense consultations with advisors and allies. Following a period of uncertainty and a pause in deliveries—including a halt in Patriot interceptor shipments—the White House gave conditional approval to resume aid, with caveats reflecting Washington’s continued reluctance to act unilaterally. The shift in Trump’s position was also accompanied by tougher rhetoric toward Moscow. On July 8, he publicly acknowledged for the first time that talks with Vladimir Putin had gone nowhere: "We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He's very nice all the time but it turns out to be meaningless." At a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that same day, Trump stated, "We’re going to have to send more weapons to Ukraine. Defensive weapons. They need to defend themselves." Later, the Pentagon confirmed the shift: "At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense will send additional defensive arms to Ukraine to ensure its ability to protect itself while we work toward a lasting peace."

Still, this is not a large-scale unblocking of stockpiles. The administration remains reluctant to part with significant quantities of Patriot missiles, which are increasingly scarce in the arsenals of the U.S. and its allies. One of Trump’s advisors put it this way: "Getting a Patriot missile isn’t like walking into Walmart and grabbing ten off the shelf." According to sources, Trump agreed to send Ukraine just ten interceptors—fewer than initially proposed. He also directed his team to explore alternative supply options, including sources outside the United States.

One such option could be Germany. A day before the new shipment was approved, Chancellor Friedrich Merz called Trump personally to urge him to lift the freeze. In response, the U.S. president suggested Berlin send one of its own Patriot batteries—on the condition that the costs be shared between the U.S. and other European partners. According to sources, no agreement has been reached so far: Germany maintains that it has already provided more Patriot systems to Ukraine than Washington and insists on a proportional approach.

Trump’s shift became especially evident after a phone call with Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday—described by both sides as the most constructive conversation since Trump’s return to the White House. He reaffirmed his willingness to support Ukraine’s air defenses but made it clear that U.S. stockpiles are limited and require reassessment. The dialogue with Kyiv stood in sharp contrast to a tense call with Vladimir Putin the day before. According to sources, just hours after that conversation, Russia launched a massive strike on Ukrainian cities, further fueling Trump’s frustration. One of his advisors put it bluntly: "Ukrainians should feel more confident now than at any point during Trump’s presidency. Putin acted like an idiot."

The shift in the White House’s position was also driven by the escalating threats posed by other U.S. adversaries. The recent strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—personally authorized by Trump—signaled a new willingness to use limited force. At the same time, news broke of deepening military cooperation between China and Russia. As Bloomberg reported, the Chinese side helped establish a drone production line in Russia’s Far East. These UAVs, built using technology sourced through Chinese partners, are now being used regularly in attacks on Ukrainian cities. For many inside the administration, this became another key argument for stepping up support for Kyiv.

At the NATO summit in The Hague, the issue of Patriot missiles resurfaced under unusual circumstances. Trump found himself at the center of a confrontation with BBC Ukrainian journalist Myroslava Petsa, whose husband is fighting on the front lines. She directly asked when Ukraine would receive the promised interceptors. According to witnesses, the exchange left an impression on the president. However, in a later conversation with aides, he reportedly expressed skepticism: "Was that a setup?"

Against this backdrop, the Pentagon is increasingly concerned that the pace of deliveries is outstripping production. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. is in talks with Greece and Germany about purchasing additional Patriot batteries for transfer to Ukraine. These discussions have been ongoing for several months. Still, as those close to the president admit, everything ultimately hinges on his personal decision. As one advisor put it: "This is the Trump administration. Whatever he decides—that’s what happens. Everyone is waiting on him."

Later this week in Rome, a Ukrainian delegation led by Zelensky will meet with Keith Kellogg—Trump’s special envoy for security matters. The primary goal of the talks is to gain clarity on what deliveries can be expected in the coming months—and under what conditions.