U.S. President Donald Trump announced late Monday that the United States will send more weapons to Ukraine to help defend against Russia’s ongoing invasion, even as his administration seeks to broker an end to the conflict.

Speaking to reporters at the White House ahead of a dinner with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump stated, "We're going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves." He emphasized that Ukraine is "getting hit very hard now" and indicated the new aid would focus on "defensive weapons."

The decision comes as Russia intensifies its assaults on Ukraine with near-daily drone and missile strikes. The U.S. has been Kyiv’s largest military supporter, but concerns have lingered over the continuity of aid since Trump returned to office and scaled back assistance previously provided by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

Trump expressed frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating last week that there had been "no progress" in ending the war. Following a phone call with Putin on Thursday, Trump said he was "very disappointed with the conversation" and doubted the Russian leader’s willingness to halt hostilities.

The Kremlin, however, criticized the U.S. decision to send more arms, arguing it prolongs the conflict. "These actions probably do not align with attempts to promote a peaceful resolution," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the Financial Times reported that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has agreed to replace his ambassador to the U.S., Oksana Markarova, who has faced Republican criticism for perceived ties to the Democratic Party. The move is seen as an effort to improve relations with the Trump administration.

Additionally, Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, is expected to attend an international aid conference for Ukraine in Rome in the coming days, according to Reuters.