“He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”

The US president, who alarmed Kyiv and western allies with his pivot towards Putin soon after returning to the White House, confirmed that decision on Tuesday.

“We have to step them up, Pete, and let them make it at a much higher rate,” he said.

Russia says sending arms to Ukraine doesn’t ‘promote a peaceful resolution’

Any pause in weapons deliveries poses a serious challenge for Kyiv, which is contending with some of Russia’s largest missile and drone attacks of the war.

Russia also launched a fresh large-scale drone and missile barrage on Monday including on Ukraine’s military recruitment centres. Source: AAP / Ukrinform / Sipa USA

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Tuesday that Ukraine will “intensify” talks with the US on air defence.

Last month, Moscow said its forces had crossed the border into the Dnipropetrovsk region for the first time in its campaign.