After President Donald Trump mentioned he would “speak” with Moscow about providing Kyiv with Tomahawk missiles in what some saw as a veiled threat, Russia reportedly struck a Ukrainian hospital Monday night amid its ongoing aerial attacks.
Russia, which has consistently said it does not target non-military people, has reportedly struck hospitals frequently during its more than three-and-a-half-year conflict. Local news source the Kyiv Independent reported that six patients were injured in the Kharkiv region after a facility with over 100 patients was hit with precision-guided KAB bombs.
Earlier on Monday, while aboard Air Force One, Trump told Fox News that he might need to discuss with Russian President Vladimir Putin the potential consequences Russia could face if the U.S. were to give Ukraine the advanced weaponry.
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“They are in desperate need of Patriots. They would like to have tomahawks – that’s an upgrade,” Trump stated after a conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday.
“They would like Tomahawks. We talked about it, so we’ll see. I might need to speak with Russia about Tomahawks, to be honest,” he said, referring to the high-precision, long-range cruise missile. “Do they want Tomahawks heading their way? I doubt it.”
Zelenskyy and Trump are scheduled to meet in Washington on Friday to discuss Ukraine’s air defenses and increasing pressure on Putin as Europe and the U.S. seek to counter his increasingly aggressive stance.
“Air defense and our long-range capabilities to pressure Russia for peace are the main topics of the visit,” Zelenskyy said Monday, adding that he would also meet with defense and energy officials and possibly attend meetings on Capitol Hill with lawmakers.
Ukraine has long requested more air defense support as Russia has heavily used drone and missile attacks to strike civilian targets, including residential buildings, schools, and maternity and children’s hospitals, since the war began.
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“Now that the war in the Middle East is nearing its end, it’s crucial to maintain momentum in spreading peace. The war in Europe can also be ended, and the leadership of the United States and other partners is essential for this,” Zelenskyy stated.
Trump also suggested Monday that now that a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Hamas – although it has not been fully implemented as the second phase of the agreement cannot proceed until all deceased hostages are returned from the Gaza Strip – he wanted to shift his focus to ending the war in Ukraine.
Trump indicated that if Russia is unwilling to “settle” the war, the U.S. would provide Ukraine with the Tomahawk missiles it has long sought. However, it remains unclear what would convince Trump that Putin is serious about ending his military objectives in Ukraine, given Putin’s continued attacks on civilian targets despite numerous meetings between him and Trump, as well as with other White House officials, since Trump’s return to office.
Security experts have been warning for months that Putin is not interested in ending the war in Ukraine and will continue to pose a threat to other European nations.
“I truly believe President Putin would be seen positively if he resolved this,” Trump said. “And I think he will settle it. We’ll see. If he doesn’t, it won’t be good for him.”
