Trump Criticizes Putin Ahead of Ukraine War Announcement

US President Donald Trump has pledged to send additional Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine, a policy shift coinciding with what he promised would be a "major statement" regarding Washington's approach to Russia. In comments late on July 13, Trump did not provide specifics on the planned Patriot deliveries to Kyiv -- which has long pleaded for the systems it sees as crucial to defending its cities from Russian air strikes, which Moscow has ramped up in recent weeks. He also criticized Vladimir Putin, the latest in a series of negative remarks…