THE long-range weapons Donald Trump is reportedly planning to send to Ukraine could deal a major blow to Russia, military experts told The Sun.
Trump, who appears to be growing increasingly frustrated with tyrant Vladimir Putin, is set to announce an “aggressive” new weapons plan to support Ukraine.
Dozens were injured in Kyiv following a massive ballistic missile and drone attack launched by Russia last week[/caption]
Fires broke out in at least 13 locations across five districts in Kyiv after the attack[/caption]
Soldiers of Ukraine’s 30th Separate Mechanized Brigade fire a Grad multiple rocket launcher towards Russian positions at the frontline in Donetsk region[/caption]
Donald Trump speaks with the media at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland[/caption]
He has promised to send MIM-104 Patriot surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems – which are used to stop incoming missiles – to Ukraine.
But he has also suggested that the US would supply “very sophisticated” military hardware to Ukraine.
Patriot rockets – which act as America’s primary air defence system – were successfully used in the Middle East to shoot down missiles that Iran fired at a US airbase in Qatar.
But the military package for Ukraine will also likely include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, two sources told Axios.
Colonel Hamish de Bretton-Gordon, a decorated British Army commander, said the shipment of these long-range missiles would have profound “psychological and physical effects” on Ukraine.
Mr de Bretton-Gordon told The Sun: “These weapons can strike Moscow – over 400 miles from the border. That allows the Ukrainians to strike drone factory production and ammunition sites, and others.
“So this will have both psychological as well as physical effects.
“People in Moscow will realise that they potentially could be targeted.
“And when you also add to it the American bombings on Iranian sites that were supposed to be impregnable, it shows that American missile and drone technology rather superior to the Russian air defence system.”
The former army chief said these weapons will put real pressure on Russia, adding: “The metric has now changed and Trump’s decision could make a huge difference.”
Ex-military intelligence officer Colonel Philip Ingram told The Sun how these long-range weapons could help strike Russian missile and drone launchpads – the ones that are used to launch nightly attacks on Ukraine.
He said: “The Ukrainians are already attacking to hit Russian military logistics, defence industry bases.
“And with these sophisticated weapons, they will have increased capability of doing so.
“It will impact the ability of the Russians to prosecute these increasingly large drone and rocket attacks on a nightly basis.
“And then that’s the best way for the Ukrainians to stop it.”
Trump is now set to make a “major statement” on Russia – and is expected to reveal more details about the military package.
More weapons that Kyiv could receive in the coming days include precision-guided GMLRS missiles and thousands of high-explosive Howitzer rounds.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told Axios that he is “really p****d at Putin”, and that the announcement is going to be really “very aggressive”.
Trump said he was ‘very disappointed’ with Vladimir Putin[/caption]
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomes the American aid package[/caption]
Trump reiterated that he was “very unhappy” with Putin since their phone call two weeks ago made no progress on the Ukraine peace deal – something the US president has pushed for since returning to power.
Instead, Putin has snubbed peace and is instead steadily increasing his overnight bombing raids – which could soon hit 1,000 a day.
Last week, Trump accused Putin of throwing “bullshit” at Washington on Ukraine and making “meaningless” promises.
“We get a lot of bull**** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,” Trump told reporters during a televised cabinet meeting at the White House.
“He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
“We’re going to send some more weapons [to Ukraine].
“We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re hit very hard now.”
Moscow had no immediate reaction to Trump’s strongly worded comments about Putin, but the Kremlin said that sending arms to Ukraine only serves to prolong the conflict.
Russia is launching the drones in a deadly new development in the war[/caption]
Some of the devastation caused by the new wave of Russian attacks on Kyiv[/caption]
“It is obvious of course that these actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying in a briefing.
Putin, who himself proposed direct talks with Kyiv to end the war a few weeks ago, has now suggested that diplomacy will not help Moscow achieve its war goals.
He has instead increased the intensity of his attacks – hammering Ukraine with almost daily drones and ballistic missile blitzes.
Last week, the Russians launched 741 drones and missiles at Ukraine – the biggest single attack of the 40-month war.
Some 400 were fired the next day.
Over the weekend, 600 drones and 26 missiles including Kh-101 cruise missiles were launched in one of the most intense bombing raids since the inception of the war.
Trump also urged Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth to push defence contractors to increase production of armaments.
“We have to step them up, Pete, and let them make it at a much higher rate,” he said.
“Putin is not treating human beings right. He’s killing too many people. So we’re sending some defensive weapons and I’ve approved that,” Trump added.
Experts hope the shipment of these new weapons – and fresh sanctions – could put the Russians back at the negotiating table.
An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike on Kyiv on Thursday[/caption]
