If the plan is finalized, it would allow critical aid to flow to Ukraine as it endures one of Russia’s heaviest assaults of the war.

The arrangement allows Ukraine to get weapons it needs in its war with Russia while providing a way for Europe to increase its defense spending as promised.

WASHINGTON — The United States is selling weapons to its NATO allies in Europe so they can provide them to Ukraine as it struggles to fend off a recent escalation in Russia’s drone and missile attacks, President Donald Trump and his chief diplomat said.

By Kanishka Singh, Frank Jack Daniel and Angelo Amante WASHINGTON/KYIV/ROME (Reuters) -U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday the United States would supply weapons to Ukraine via NATO and that he would make a "major statement" on Russia on Monday.

Republican defense hawks are riding high after a series of events abroad prompted President Donald Trump to lean away from his more quasi-isolationist roots in his first term. His bombing of Iran, increased aggression toward Russia,

Flattery and pressure — coupled with President Trump’s growing dissatisfaction with President Vladimir V. Putin — have helped build momentum for new economic punishments.

Following the Pentagon announcing a pause on weapons, the U.S. president said Ukraine must defend itself from Russia.

I’m not happy with Putin ... because he’s killing a lot of people,” Trump said. He decided to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine days after the White House announced a halt.

The Russian leader is convinced that Moscow’s battlefield superiority is growing, and that Ukraine’s defenses may collapse in the coming months, according to people close to the Kremlin.

President Trump said Monday his administration will send more defensive weapons to Ukraine amid its war with Russia, days after pausing some weapons shipments.

Former Vice President Mike Pence says he thinks isolationists “may have lost some of their footing” in President Donald Trump’s administration, as he praised Trump’s tougher talk toward Russia’s Vladimir Putin and his decision to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.