Trump casts European purchases of US weapons for Ukraine as a victory as UN warns civilians being killed at record rate.

Former Ukraine aid critics now back Trump's strategy requiring European funding for weapons to Kyiv after the president pivoted his frustration from Zelenskyy to Putin.

U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to ramp up arms shipments to Ukraine is a signal to Kyiv to abandon peace efforts, Russia said on Thursday, vowing it would not accept the "blackmail" of Washington's new sanctions ultimatum.

Zelenskyy has emphasized the importance of expanding production to counter Russia's invasion and strike deeper into Russian territory.

Ukraine is eyeing the US-made Patriot system in particular – a highly sophisticated surface-to-air defence platform designed to intercept missiles and aircraft – to defend itself against Russian attacks.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has commented on a US-NATO agreement to supply US weapons to Ukraine. Source: Sikorski following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Tuesday, as reported by European Pravda,

But it’s hard to escape the feeling that Ukraine’s Western allies – even in Europe – are losing interest in what was once their top priority.

As NATO meets in The Hague, a Kyiv think tank says Europe must face the Russian threat with reduced U.S. support.