Amid the most massive missile attack on Kyiv since the beginning of the war, the initiative of General Keith Kellogg, advisor to Donald Trump, marked a turning point in American policy toward Ukraine, reports Baltimore Chronicle, citing The Telegraph.
On July 4, Kellogg received a call from the Polish Minister of Foreign Affairs, Radek Sikorski. After this phone call, the general urged Trump to resume the supply of anti-aircraft ammunition to Ukraine. That night, Russian missiles and drones damaged the Polish consulate in Kyiv, an event that became a key turning point in the White House’s stance toward Ukraine.
Shortly after speaking with Kellogg, Trump personally ordered the Pentagon to unblock frozen Patriot systems and to contact Secretary of Defense Pete Gegset. It was Gegset who, without consulting the White House, suspended military aid to Ukraine, drawing criticism even from Trump’s allies, such as Senator Marco Rubio.
During his call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the same day, Trump promised to provide Ukraine with support in the area of air defense. This signal was considered a turning point in Washington, seen as an acknowledgment of the need to increase the U.S. role in the conflict for achieving a peaceful resolution.
Within nine days, Trump, with the support of NATO allies, announced a new $10 billion aid package. In cooperation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, the agreements included the purchase and transfer of new Patriot systems to Ukraine, part of which was funded by Germany and Norway.
Interestingly, a batch of systems originally intended for Switzerland was redirected for Ukraine. Bern agreed to delay its own order in favor of Ukraine.
Earlier we wrote that Trump announces U.S. withdrawal from UNESCO.