NATO to fully reimburse US weapon shipments to Ukraine: Trump
3 Min Read
US President Donald Trump announces that NATO will fully reimburse the cost of weapons sent to Ukraine via the alliance, including potentially Patriot missiles and medium-range rockets.
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President Donald Trump speaks during a conference at the end of the NATO summit as Foreign Secretary Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth listen, in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP)
US President Donald Trump confirmed on Friday that NATO will fully pay for the weapons Washington will send to Ukraine via the alliance. This move marks his first such action since returning to office and signals a renewed American focus on supporting Ukraine, amid escalating Russian warnings.
“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%. 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,” the US president told NBC News. He noted that the deal was reached during the last NATO summit.
“We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons,” Trump added.
According to Reuters, citing two sources familiar with the decision, the package may include defensive Patriot missiles, as well as offensive medium-range rockets, although no final decision has been made on the exact equipment. One source noted that the matter would be addressed during a meeting on Thursday.
According to Reuters' sources, Trump’s team will select weapons from US stockpiles to send to Ukraine using the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which permits the president to provide military aid quickly during emergencies, and one source indicated the package could be valued at approximately $300 million.
This comes amid Trump slowly shifting his stance on the Russo-Ukraine war, becoming more punitive toward Russia as his frustration grows over stalled peace talks.
Trump administration ups its support for Ukraine
The Wall Street Journal reported on July 9 that US President Donald Trump was weighing the possibility of deploying an additional Patriot air-defense system to Ukraine, as the United States steps up its military support for Kiev amid ongoing diplomatic setbacks and a persistent escalation of tensions.
Two US officials confirmed to WSJ that the Pentagon has been directed to outline potential measures to bolster Ukraine's defenses, with the Patriot missile system being a key consideration among the proposed options.
Though he previously signaled willingness to engage in talks with Russia, Trump has recently shifted toward a more aggressive posture, sharply criticizing President Vladimir Putin while declaring, "We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin."
A RIA Novosti correspondent's review of the US Army's fiscal year 2026 budget on July 9 revealed that over $1.6 billion originally allocated for Ukraine aid has been reallocated to boost domestic weapons manufacturing and artillery shell production.
The funds initially designated in 2024 have been redirected to increase production of 155mm artillery shells, which are NATO standard ammunition essential for Ukrainian forces currently experiencing supply shortages.
A July 10 report by POLITICO stated that US President Donald Trump is willing to sign a bill, pushed by Senator Lindsay Graham, that pushes harsh sanctions on Russia. The US President, however, is willing to sign the bill if it is modified to reinforce his waiver authority on the bill.
