Experts suggest that Donald Trump’s decision to provide long-range weapons to Ukraine could significantly impact the ongoing conflict by curbing Vladimir Putin’s nightly assaults.
Trump, who seems increasingly frustrated with Vladimir Putin, plans to unveil an “aggressive” new strategy to arm Ukraine, thereby showing support against the Russian leader.
He has promised to send MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems – which are used to stop incoming missiles – to Ukraine.
But he has also suggested that the US would supply “very sophisticated” military hardware to Ukraine.
Earlier today, a furious Trump even gave Putin a 50-day ultimatum to help end the war of face 100 per cent tariffs from the US.
The US President said he is “very unhappy” with Moscow’s aggression as he met Nato chief Mark Rutte in the White House.
It comes just a week after Trump also accused Putin of throwing “bull****” at Washington on Ukraine and making “meaningless” promises.
While Moscow has not yet responded directly to Trump’s outspoken remarks about Putin, the Kremlin has cautioned that supplying arms to Ukraine will only extend the duration of the war.
The US has now also pledged to send more weapons to Ukraine.
Patriot rockets – which act as America’s primary air defence system – were successfully used in the Middle East to shoot down missiles that Iran fired at a US airbase in Qatar.
But the military package for Ukraine will also likely include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, two sources told Axios.
Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a decorated British Army commander, said the shipment of these long-range missiles would have profound “psychological and physical effects” on Ukraine.
Mr de Bretton-Gordon told The Sun: “These weapons can strike Moscow – over 400 miles from the border. That allows the Ukrainians to strike drone factory production and ammunition sites, and others.
“So this will have both psychological as well as physical effects.
“People in Moscow will realise that they potentially could be targeted.
“And when you also add to it the American bombings on Iranian sites that were supposed to be impregnable, it shows that American missile and drone technology rather superior to the Russian air defence system.”
The former army chief said these weapons will put real pressure on Russia, adding: “The metric has now changed and Trump’s decision could make a huge difference.”
Ex-military intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram told The Sun how these long-range weapons could help strike Russian missile and drone launchpads – the ones that are used to launch nightly attacks on Ukraine.
He said: “The Ukrainians are already attacking to hit Russian military logistics, defence industry bases.
“And with these sophisticated weapons, they will have increased capability of doing so.
“It will impact the ability of the Russians to prosecute these increasingly large drone and rocket attacks on a nightly basis.
“And then that’s the best way for the Ukrainians to stop it.”
More weapons that Kyiv could receive in the coming days include precision-guided GMLRS missiles and thousands of high-explosive Howitzer rounds.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios that he is “really p****d at Putin”, and that the announcement is going to be really “very aggressive”.
Trump reiterated that he was “very unhappy” with Putin since their phone call two weeks ago made no progress on the Ukraine peace deal – something the US president has pushed for since returning to power.
In the past few weeks, Putin has snubbed peace and is instead steadily increasing his overnight bombing raids – which could soon hit 1,000 a day.
“It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in a briefing.
Putin, who himself proposed direct talks with Kyiv to end the war a few weeks ago, has now suggested that diplomacy will not help Moscow achieve its war goals.
He has instead increased the intensity of his attacks – hammering Ukraine with almost daily drones and ballistic missile blitzes.
Last week, the Russians launched 741 drones and missiles at Ukraine – the biggest single attack of the 40-month war.
Some 400 were fired the next day.
Over the weekend, 600 drones and 26 missiles including Kh-101 cruise missiles were launched in one of the most intense bombing raids since the inception of the war.
Trump also urged Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth to push defence contractors to increase production of armaments.
“We have to step them up, Pete, and let them make it at a much higher rate,” he said.
“Putin is not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people. So we’re sending some defensive weapons and I’ve approved that,” Trump added.
Experts hope the shipment of these new weapons – and fresh sanctions – could put the Russians back at the negotiating table.
