Washington/Kyiv — July 2025
In a sharp shift from recent uncertainty, President Donald Trump on Monday announced that the United States would be sending additional weapons to Ukraine, as Russian forces continue to press forward in their ongoing invasion.
“We’re going to have to send more weapons — defensive weapons primarily,” Trump told reporters during a briefing at the White House. “They’re getting hit very, very hard,” he added, referring to the recent wave of Russian missile and drone strikes against Ukrainian cities and military targets.
Trump’s announcement came just days after the U.S. administration confirmed a temporary halt in certain arms deliveries to Kyiv, a move that caught Ukrainian officials by surprise and raised concerns about a potential drop in American support.
The timing of the pause couldn’t have been more sensitive for Ukraine. Russian forces have intensified their attacks in recent weeks, launching some of the largest aerial assaults since the full-scale war began in 2022. Ukrainian military facilities, infrastructure, and recruitment centers have all been targeted in what appears to be a strategic escalation by Moscow.
On Monday, Russia claimed its troops had captured the village of Dachne in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region — an area known for its mining and industrial significance. If confirmed, it would mark the first Russian gain in that part of Ukraine and a worrying sign of deeper incursions beyond the frontlines.
Kyiv, however, pushed back against Moscow’s claims. Ukraine’s military said it had repelled several attacks in the region, including near Dachne, and maintained that Russian troops had not secured a foothold there.
Still, Ukrainian military analyst Oleksiy Kopytko acknowledged the situation was becoming “increasingly difficult” in Dnipropetrovsk. He warned that Moscow may be seeking to establish a buffer zone that could disrupt Ukrainian logistics and further strain its already stretched defence lines.
A War with No Clear End in Sight
While President Trump has frequently called for peace negotiations and even held direct phone conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, there has been little movement on that front. Kremlin officials have repeatedly dismissed calls for a ceasefire unless Kyiv agrees to further territorial concessions — an option Ukraine continues to reject.
Despite his stated desire for diplomacy, Trump has not yet unveiled any new military aid package for Ukraine since returning to office in January. This has sparked concerns in Kyiv, where leaders have long feared a drop in American support under Trump’s leadership — particularly after his repeated criticism of the billions in aid allocated by former President Joe Biden.
Under Biden, Washington committed more than $65 billion in military support to Ukraine. The current administration’s review of military assistance programs has led to delays and, in some cases, temporary suspensions — though Monday’s remarks signal a possible recalibration of that approach.
Kyiv Counting on Partners
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, reacting to the shifting stance in Washington, said on Monday that air defence remains Ukraine’s “top priority” in the face of relentless Russian attacks. He urged Western partners to stand firm in their commitments.
“We’re counting on our partners to fully deliver on what we have agreed,” Zelensky stated.
Overnight into Tuesday, explosions were reported in the southern city of Mykolaiv. Regional officials confirmed that a fire broke out on the city’s outskirts following a round of Russian shelling. A 51-year-old man was wounded in the attack, according to Mykolaiv governor Vitaliy Kim.
Meanwhile, Ukraine claimed it had launched a successful drone strike on a Russian ammunition facility in the Moscow region — part of a broader effort by Kyiv to hit strategic targets behind enemy lines.
As the war grinds on past its third year, Ukraine’s battlefield realities continue to shift, and U.S. policy appears to be evolving in response. But with diplomacy stalled and frontlines active, both Kyiv and its allies face difficult questions about the road ahead.
