In a sharp departure from past policy, the Trump administration has reportedly now begun reshaping the global flow of American-made weapons, placing U.S. allies like Germany ahead of other buyers in order to expedite badly needed air-defense systems to Ukraine — but with a new catch: these weapons will no longer come free.
In a move reflecting President Donald Trump’s longstanding position that NATO allies must do more to shoulder the burden of European defense, Germany has been moved ahead of Switzerland in the Patriot missile system production line.
This shift clears the way for Berlin to send two of its existing Patriots to Ukraine, bolstered by a firm U.S. commitment to replenish the German inventory with systems built by RTX (formerly Raytheon).
“The timelines for new production are years and years, but Ukraine needs these capabilities now,” said Alina Polyakova of the Center for European Policy Analysis.
The urgency comes as Russia escalates its missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure and cities.
For the first time, the Pentagon is actively facilitating weapons transfers on behalf of Ukraine under Trump’s leadership — though with a new emphasis on transactional diplomacy. “We’ve made a deal today where we are going to be sending them weapons and they are going to be paying for them.
We, the United States, won’t be having any payment made,” Trump said during a meeting with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The message is clear: America will lead, but it will not bankroll Europe’s defense alone.
This strategy mirrors Trump’s broader effort to make U.S. support contingent on allied commitment — not just moral, but financial.
Germany, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, Britain, Canada, and Finland have already signed on to the initiative, with more likely to follow, according to European officials.
The Trump administration is also organizing a network of deals under which NATO members provide weapons to Ukraine and receive U.S.-made replacements. In addition to Patriots, this framework could extend to other advanced offensive and defensive systems. The Department of Defense will oversee these transactions.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will meet virtually with NATO defense chiefs Monday, followed by a Patriot coordination summit chaired by Gen. Alexus Grynkewich. “The guidance that I’ve been given has been to move out as quickly as possible,” Grynkewich said.
The new arms transfers come amid Trump’s stern ultimatum to Moscow: negotiate within 50 days or face sweeping sanctions — including tariffs on trading partners. Analysts expect Russia to intensify its military campaign before the deadline. “Fifty days is too long to give Russia,” said Mick Mulroy, a former Pentagon and CIA official. “They will do everything they can to advance in Ukraine over the next 50 days.”
Meanwhile, the Swiss government acknowledged the U.S. had “reprioritized” Patriot deliveries. Switzerland, which was expecting five systems between 2026 and 2028, now faces delays.
Despite Moscow’s threats of retaliation against Western suppliers, Trump’s approach suggests a stark recalibration: allies must act — and invest — or step aside.
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