'Putin talks nice, then bombs everybody': Trump says he is sending Patriot missile defence systems to Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said he will send Patriot air defence systems to Ukraine, as his administration grows increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s refusal to negotiate an end to the war.

“We will send them Patriots, which they desperately need,” Trump told reporters at Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Sunday.

“Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” Trump said.

“So, there’s a little bit of a problem there. I don’t like it.”

.@POTUS: "I am very disappointed with President Putin. I thought he was somebody that meant what he said — and he'll talk so beautifully, then he'll bomb people at night. We don't like that." pic.twitter.com/9HaGgLiKEJ

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) July 14, 2025

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Trump did not say how many Patriot missile systems would be sent to Ukraine, but confirmed, “I haven’t agreed on the number yet, but they’re going to have some because they do need protection.”

According to AFP, this decision marks a shift from the White House’s earlier stance this month, when it suggested pausing weapons deliveries to Kyiv. Trump said that under the new plan, the European Union would pay the full cost. “We’re going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment, and they’re going to pay us 100 percent for them,” he said. “It’ll be business for us.”

The announcement comes as US Special Envoy Amos Hochstein travels to Ukraine and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte prepares to meet Trump in Washington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently said his country was close to securing an agreement for more Patriot systems and missiles.

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Trump also repeated his criticism of Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nice and then he bombs everybody in the evening,” he said, pointing to Russia’s stepped-up summer offensive and refusal to agree to a ceasefire.

Asked about potential new sanctions on Russia, Trump said, “We’re going to see what we will see tomorrow, OK?” He added that a major statement on Russia would be made on Monday.