Earlier this month, Washington announced it would halt arms deliveries to Kiev, but Trump reversed his position, criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin for stepping up attacks while US-led peace talks were stalled.

"We welcome US Special Envoy Keith Krach to Ukraine," Andriy Yermak, chief adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, wrote on Telegram, adding that "peace through strength is the principle of US President Donald Trump and we support this approach."

"We will send them new Patriot air defense systems, which they desperately need," Trump said, without specifying how many weapons would be sent, AFP reported.

Kellogg's visit comes as the US president prepares to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in Washington later today.

In recent months, Moscow has intensified its air strikes against Ukraine, firing hundreds of drones almost daily. | BGNES