Axios: Trump to announce major shift on Ukraine aid including offensive weapons

U.S. President Donald Trump is set to announce a new plan to arm Ukraine with offensive weapons, sources familiar with the decision told Axios. The move, expected to be unveiled on July 14 during a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, signals a tougher stance by Trump against Russian President Vladimir Putin amid renewed Russian offensives in Ukraine.

The decision marks a major shift from Trump’s earlier position, in which he insisted on supplying only defensive weapons to Ukraine in an effort to avoid escalating the conflict. Now, U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials hope this new approach will alter the trajectory of the war and potentially push Putin toward ceasefire negotiations.

Sources told Axios that the proposed weapons package could include long-range missiles capable of striking targets deep within Russian territory—including, potentially, Moscow. However, final decisions on the composition of the aid have not yet been confirmed.

“Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive,” said Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), speaking to Axios on the eve of the rollout.

The initiative involves European nations covering the full cost of U.S.-manufactured weapons, which will then be delivered to Ukraine. “It is going to be business for us,” Trump said late on July 13, adding that European partners “are going to pay us 100%” for the military equipment, including advanced systems such as the Patriot air defense batteries.

The plan originated from a proposal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the NATO summit two weeks ago. U.S. officials described Trump’s meeting with Zelenskyy at the summit as their most productive to date.

“Zelensky came like a normal human being, not crazy, and was dressed like a somebody that should be at NATO,” one U.S. official commented. “He had a group of people with him that also seemed not crazy. So they had a good conversation.” Zelenskyy notably wore a suit to the summit—the first time he has done so since the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

According to sources, Trump’s growing frustration with Putin has been building over the past two weeks. A July 3 phone call between the two leaders reportedly played a pivotal role. During the conversation, Putin is said to have made clear his intentions to intensify military operations and seize full control of Ukrainian regions already partially occupied by Russian forces.

“He wants to take all of it,” Trump reportedly told French President Emmanuel Macron shortly after the call, according to a source with direct knowledge of the conversation.

In the days that followed, the proposal to send offensive weapons gained momentum and evolved into a more structured plan.

While the White House has yet to issue an official statement, Trump’s planned announcement will likely spark debate both domestically and internationally. Supporters see it as a necessary step to deter further Russian aggression, while critics may raise concerns about the risks of escalation.

Trump, who has long branded himself as a dealmaker, framed the initiative as both a strategic and economic win: “It is going to be business for us.”

By Vugar Khalilov