Ukraine needs armament. The escalation of Russia's attacks highlights the new offensive that Putin's troops are carrying out. That's why the announcement made by Donald Trump in the early hours is so important for Kiev, who assures that United States will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine.
"We will send them the Patriots, which they desperately need," said Trump without specifying how many units will be sent, two weeks after Washington said it would suspend the delivery of weapons to Kiev. Additionally, the US President has said he is "disappointed" in Putin. "Putin really surprised a lot of people. He talks nicely and then bombs everyone at night," said the Republican, displeased.
The Russian offensive on Ukraine that began over three years ago intensified this summer, coinciding with the deadlock in negotiations led by the United States to halt the fighting.
Trump warns of a "major announcement" about Russia
The US President, Donald Trump, is meeting with the NATO Secretary-General on Monday and warned of a "major announcement" about Russia, just as Republicans in the Senate are preparing to impose strong sanctions on Moscow, reports Afp.
Trump began his second term with the promise to quickly end the conflict in Ukraine, but in recent weeks, he has expressed growing frustration with Russian President, Vladimir Putin, and on Sunday hinted at being willing to toughen sanctions against Russia.
The Republican President also announced that he will send Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, despite stating two weeks ago that Washington would suspend the delivery of weapons to Kiev.
Russia attacks Ukraine with 136 drones and 4 missiles before Kellogg's visit
Russia launched 4 missiles and 136 drones against Ukraine, including attack drones and replicas used to confuse Ukrainian defenses, hours before the White House representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kiev to discuss the resumption of US arms shipments, reports Efe.
Of the total drones, around 90 were kamikaze Shahed drones, according to the Ukrainian Air Force report.
Ukrainian air defenses neutralized 61 of the Shahed drones. Another 28 attack drones hit 10 different unspecified locations, with the Ukrainian Air Force also reporting the fall of intercepted drone fragments in 4 other locations.
German Defense Minister to press US counterpart on arms supply and missile deployment
German Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, travels to Washington on Monday to meet with US Defense Secretary, Pete Hegseth, seeking clarity on US arms supply to Ukraine, missile deployment plans, and the future of US troops in Europe, reports Reuters.
Pistorius is likely to receive a warm reception, as Europe's largest economy has recently become a key player in NATO's largest military reinforcement since the Cold War, after decades of defense spending delays. While European authorities are concerned about a possible future Russian attack and prepare for a reduction of US forces, Germany has relaxed its constitutional debt brake to meet NATO's new basic military spending target of 3.5% of national output by 2029.
US envoy Keith Kellogg arrives in Kiev to discuss security and sanctions
The US President's envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, arrived in Kiev on Monday to discuss security and sanctions against Russia, as stated by the head of the Ukrainian presidential administration, reports Reuters.
"Defense, strengthening security, weapons, sanctions, protection of our people, strengthening cooperation between Ukraine and the United States: there are many issues to address," wrote Andriy Yermak on the Telegram messaging app.
China highlights strategic value of its relationship with Russia
Chinese Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, described his country's relations with Russia as the "most strategically valuable" between two powers in the world during a meeting in Beijing with his counterpart Sergey Lavrov, reports Afp.
Beijing and Moscow have strengthened their political and economic ties in recent years, coinciding with the Russian offensive in Ukraine and tense relations of both countries with the United States and the European Union.
In his meeting with Lavrov on Sunday, Wang said that "China-Russia relations are the most stable, mature, and strategically valuable between two major powers in the world currently," according to a summary from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Russia shoots down eleven Ukrainian drones over three of its regions and annexed Crimea
Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down a total of eleven Ukrainian fixed-wing drones over three regions of the country and the annexed Crimean peninsula last night, as reported on Monday by the Russian Ministry of Defense on its Telegram channel, reports Efe.
According to the military report, the Ukrainian aircraft were downed over the regions of Oryol (6), Bryansk (2), and Kursk (1), the latter two bordering Ukraine.
In addition, one drone was destroyed over the Crimea peninsula, annexed by Moscow in 2014, and another over the waters of the Black Sea.
In recent days, the number of drone attacks on Russian territory has decreased, while Russia has significantly increased its attacks with unmanned aerial vehicles and missiles against Ukraine.
Russia claims Ukrainian drones attacked a training center at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Ukrainian drones attacked a training center at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant on Sunday night, as reported on Monday by the plant's administration, controlled by Russia, in Ukraine, reports Reuters.
"The enemy used three unmanned aerial vehicles," declared the administration on the Telegram messaging app. It added that no critical damage was reported.
The Russian report comes a day after the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, stated it heard hundreds of small arms shots on Saturday night at the plant.