Sending U.S. Patriots marks a shift for Trump, who had previously refrained from approving new weapons shipments to Ukraine since he returned to the White House. It also comes as U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham announced record levels of U.S. arms would go to Ukraine, dealing a blow to Putin.

President Donald Trump said the US will send more Patriot air-defense batteries to Ukraine in an apparent shift to a more confrontational stance toward Russia after his attempts to negotiate a ceasefire failed.