>Sending offensive weapons would be a major shift for Trump, who had until recently been at pains to say he would provide only defensive weapons to avoid escalating the conflict.

>U.S., Ukrainian and European officials hope the weapons will shift the trajectory of the war and change Russian President Vladimir Putin's calculations regarding a ceasefire.
>Two sources told Axios they had reason to believe the plan was likely to include long-range missiles that could reach targets deep inside Russian territory, including Moscow. However, neither was aware of any final decision.
>"Trump is really pissed at Putin. His announcement tomorrow is going to be very aggressive," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) told Axios.
>The new initiative, which will be rolled out in a meeting between Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, will involve European countries paying for U.S.-made weapons that will be sent to Ukraine.

>The White House did not respond to a request for comment.
>The scheme was proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit two weeks ago.

>U.S. and Ukrainian officials said the meeting between Trump and Zelensky at the summit was their best so far.
"Zelensky came like a normal human being, not crazy, and was dressed like a somebody that should be at NATO. He had a group of people with him that also seemed not crazy. So they had a good conversation," a U.S. official said. Zelensky wore a suit at the summit for the first time since 2022.

>Trump has grown increasingly frustrated over the last two weeks over Putin's unwillingness to move towards a ceasefire and Russia's escalating attacks on Kyiv and other cities.

>One thing that convinced Trump to move down this path was the July 3 phone call in which Putin made clear he planned to escalate the war.
>Putin indicated that over the next 60 days he would make a renewed push to occupy territory up to the administrative lines of the Ukrainian regions in which Russia has a significant foothold