In a sudden change of posture, President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the United States will resume sending weapons to Ukraine, just days after ordering a pause in critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv. The pause had come as a surprise to Ukrainian officials and other allies, with the Pentagon citing concerns that stockpiles had declined too much.

“We have to,” Trump said. “They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now. We’re going to send some more weapons — defensive weapons primarily.”

The decision to resume shipments comes as Ukraine faces increasing and more complex air barrages from Russia, with recent attacks killing at least 11 civilians and injuring over 80 others, including seven children. The Pentagon affirmed that, under Trump’s direction, the US will ensure Ukrainians can defend themselves while working towards a lasting peace.

“We’re going to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,” said Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. However, Parnell added that the framework for evaluating military shipments worldwide will continue as part of “America First” defense priorities.

Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “I’m not happy with President Putin at all.” The US is also considering imposing new sanctions against Russia’s oil industry to prod Putin into peace talks.

Senator Lindsey Graham revealed that Trump has given him the green light to push forward with a bill imposing a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that continue to buy Russian oil, which could have significant implications for China and India.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine has signed deals with European allies and a US defense company to boost drone production, aiming to receive “hundreds of thousands” more drones this year. “Air defense is the main thing for protecting life,” Zelenskyy wrote on Telegram.

The situation on the ground remains dire, with Russian drone attacks targeting multiple regions in Ukraine, resulting in casualties and damage. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed to have shot down 91 Ukrainian drones in 13 Russian regions overnight.