In a marked departure from the Biden administration’s approach, President Donald J. Trump is now reportedly recalibrating U.S. support for Ukraine by pressing European allies to foot more of the bill — and buy American while doing it.
Four European countries, with coordination from NATO, are set to purchase nearly $1 billion in U.S.-made military equipment for delivery to Ukrainian forces, reflecting Trump’s strategy to both aid Kyiv and invigorate the American defense sector, all while holding Europe to greater responsibility for its regional security.
“By selling American-made weapons to NATO countries, President Trump is generating billions of dollars for U.S. industries while getting Europe to take responsibility for its own defense,” said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly in a statement Tuesday.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed he had spoken with Trump about the transactions, saying in a post on X that he discussed the European purchases and “our bilateral defense cooperation with America.”
Unlike his predecessor, Trump has been skeptical of sending U.S. weapons directly to Ukraine.
Instead, his administration has focused on creating a framework where NATO allies — many of whom had long underinvested in defense — finance weapons purchases from the United States.
The move ensures Western support for Kyiv continues, but without placing the full weight of the burden on American taxpayers.
The first major agreements came this week, with the Netherlands approving a $500 million package on Monday.
The following day, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway jointly announced a similar deal. Both transactions were coordinated by NATO following a July 14 agreement between Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte at the White House.
The weapons packages, tailored to Ukrainian battlefield needs, include critical ammunition, equipment, and air-defense systems such as the Patriot interceptor missiles.
“This is about getting Ukraine the equipment it urgently needs now to defend itself against Russian aggression,” said NATO’s Rutte, who previously served as Dutch prime minister.
Zelensky, welcoming the assistance, posted, “Thank you! This cooperation with NATO countries will continue.”
Under a new NATO-led structure, Ukraine’s military requirements have been prioritized and packaged into $500 million bundles. NATO, Ukraine, and U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, NATO’s Supreme Allied Commander Europe, are overseeing delivery logistics, ensuring each shipment matches Kyiv’s evolving wartime needs.
Meanwhile, Trump’s strategy is prompting broader shifts among NATO allies. Rutte revealed he had “written to all NATO Allies, urging them to contribute toward this burden-sharing initiative,” signaling that more deals are likely on the way.
Deliveries of U.S. weapons authorized under the previous administration are still arriving in Ukraine, although shipments of key munitions like Patriot missiles were briefly paused in June amid a Pentagon review of America’s stockpiles. Those deliveries have since resumed.
Trump’s Europe-first approach is also evident in a new U.S.-Germany weapons agreement. Berlin has agreed to send additional Patriot air-defense systems to Ukraine. In return, Germany will leapfrog Switzerland in the queue to receive the newest Patriot systems directly from the U.S. production line.
The Pentagon, according to a senior official, is prepared to continue reshuffling future deliveries to reward nations that support Ukraine through their own inventories — further incentivizing allied participation while ensuring American military readiness.
As the Biden-era model of direct aid fades, Trump’s policy may reshape how the West confronts major conflicts: one where NATO allies pay their fair share, U.S. industries thrive, and American leadership is reasserted through strength and accountability — not unchecked spending.
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