Long-range Patriot air defense missile system is deployed in Lithuania on July 11, 2017. (Illustration photo: VNA)

Trump did not give a number of Patriots he plans to send to Ukraine, but he said the United States would be reimbursed for their cost by the European Union.

"We basically are going to send them various pieces of very sophisticated military equipment. They are going to pay us 100% for that, and that's the way we want it," Trump said. He plans to meet NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to discuss Ukraine and other issues this week.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for more defensive capabilities to fend off a daily barrage of missile and drone attacks from Russia.