In a rebuke to Hegseth\u2019s authority and a notable hardening of his rhetoric over Russia\u2019s reluctance to end the war in Ukraine, Trump accused President Putin on Tuesday of talking \u201cbullshit\u201d.<\/p>\n
The US president said he was \u201cvery strongly\u201d considering sanctions on Russia, hinting at his support for a package of tariffs drawn up by senators that would target countries that continue to import Russian oil and gas, such as China and India.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, [if] you want to know the truth,\u201d he said. \u201cHe\u2019s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Pete](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/3ee8e555-a184-4dc0-8657-d6fe91879226.jpg\")
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Hegseth was ordered to resume weapons deliveries to Ukraine<\/p>\n
AARON SCHWARTZ\/CNP\/SPLASH<\/p>\n
According to CNN, Trump was not informed of the decision made by Hegseth and Elbridge Colby, the under-secretary of defence for policy, to suspend deliveries to Ukraine of Patriot interceptors<\/a>, Stinger surface-to-air missiles and AIM air-to-air missiles, all of which are used to shoot down Russian missiles and drones.<\/p>\n Colby is a long-standing critic of US aid to Ukraine. This year, he launched a review of the Aukus defence treaty, throwing the UK and Australia\u2019s plans to jointly build nuclear-powered submarines with the US into doubt.<\/p>\n After learning of the freeze, Trump ordered Hegseth to reverse his decision and resume deliveries of weapons to Ukraine. He authorised the delivery of ten Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, according to Axios.<\/p>\n Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, told CNN that Trump had \u201cmade the decision to continue providing defensive weapons to Ukraine to help stop the killing in this brutal war\u201d, adding that \u201cthe president has full confidence in the secretary of defence\u201d.<\/p>\n Patriot missile defence systems are crucial for Ukraine as they are capable of intercepting Russian missiles<\/p>\n JACK GUEZ\/AFP\/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n Trump is also looking at sending another Patriot air defence system to Ukraine<\/a> either from the US or from an ally, according to the Wall Street Journal.<\/p>\n Ukraine is believed to have seven Patriot batteries left \u2014 but air defence missiles are running out and US arms companies are struggling to keep up with worldwide demand. As well as supporting Ukraine, the US has used Patriot air defences to repel Iranian missile attacks on Israel and American airbases in the Middle East. Taiwan is also due to receive a large order of Patriot interceptors amid tensions with China.<\/p>\n Much of the military aid bound for Ukraine was already in Poland when the Pentagon confirmed it was freezing weapons deliveries, apparently due to dwindling US stockpiles<\/a>.<\/p>\n President Zelensky of Ukraine in front of a Patriot air defence system last year<\/p>\n JENS B\u00dcTTNER \/GETTY IMAGES<\/p>\n After the freeze, Trump spoke with Putin and President Zelensky of Ukraine, appearing to alter his position<\/a> after hearing the arguments of the two leaders.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, he suggested the US would ramp up production of weapons.<\/p>\n![\"US](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/4a975dba-05db-41cd-a263-928a47864579.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"Volodymyr](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/\/35bd5868-33c2-4a11-9176-6fafe53ccd50.jpg\")
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