Trump’s warning for Putin: ‘You'll see things happen’

Threat comes after Russia strikes Ukraine maternity hospital

- ANDREW FEINBERG IN WASHINGTON DC

US president Donald Trump yesterday issued a none-too-veiled threat of action against Russia after Moscow’s forces hit a Ukrainian maternity hospital, injuring nine people earlier in the day.

Speaking to reporters before departing the White House to view flood damage in Texas, where 121 have died and 170 are still missing, the president was asked about the drone attack against the civilian target.

He replied: “I know. You'll be seeing things happen.”

The president’s cryptic remark came less than a day after he told NBC News that he’d be making a “major statement” on the status of the three-year-old Russia-Ukraine war this coming Monday.

In a phone interview, the president said he was “disappointed” in Russia and reiterated his recent pledge to send more weapons to Ukraine, explaining that the US would be doing so through Nato allies that will purchase the weapons from American stockpiles.

“We’re sending weapons to Nato, and Nato is paying for those weapons, 100 per cent. So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to Nato, and then Nato is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and Nato is paying for those weapons,” Mr Trump said. “We send weapons to Nato, and Nato is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons.”

And it also comes after a new book revealed him telling donors that he previously had warned Putin he would “bomb the shit out of Moscow” if the Russian leader attacked Ukraine.