Two Republican senators, Roger Wicker and Jim Risch, have introduced legislation aimed at establishing a fund to expand military assistance to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported.

The proposed legislation, known as the PEACE Act, would establish a new fund that accepts financial contributions from US allies. The US Secretary of Defense would use this fund to pay defense contractors for replenishing American military stockpiles, enabling continued arms shipments to Ukraine without compromising US military readiness.

The fund is expected to receive between $5 and $8 billion annually, with Germany and the United Kingdom likely to be its primary donors.

“This is the fastest way to arm Ukraine as well as to minimize the strategic and military threat posed by Russia to the US and NATO,” Wicker told the WSJ.

Meanwhile, on July 14, US President Donald Trump stated that the US would impose 100% tariffs on Russian imports and introduce tariffs on countries that continue buying Russian oil if a ceasefire is not reached between Moscow and Kiev.

He also pledged to supply US weapons to Ukraine, on the condition that European nations bear the full cost. Calling it a “very big deal,” Trump said the plan involved “billions of dollars worth of military equipment” to be purchased from the US. France, Italy, Hungary, and the Czech Republic declined to participate.

Russia has consistently argued that Western arms shipments to Ukraine obstruct peace efforts and effectively make NATO members direct participants in the conflict.

Germany to deliver more IRIS-T systems, expand Ukraine arms aid

Germany is scaling up its military assistance to Ukraine with the planned delivery of 11 more IRIS-T SLM air defense systems, Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev confirmed to German broadcaster n-tv on Monday. These units are part of a broader procurement deal totaling 18 systems, seven of which are already operational on Ukrainian soil. The IRIS-T SLM systems are being deployed alongside the shorter-range IRIS-T SLS variants to reinforce Ukraine's layered air defense.

Although originally not intended to counter ballistic threats, Ukrainian forces have reportedly managed to use the IRIS-T SLMs to intercept ballistic missiles, according to Makeiev. The effectiveness of these systems has contributed to their growing prominence in Ukraine's defense strategy.

The expanded delivery falls under a wider German commitment made in 2024 to fund 24 IRIS-T complexes by 2026. In May 2025, Germany signed a €2.2 billion framework agreement to support further IRIS-T production, allowing for the flexible delivery of up to 10 fire units and hundreds of missiles based on Kiev's evolving needs.

Berlin joins US-led effort to deliver five Patriots

Beyond the IRIS-T program, Berlin has also joined a US-led effort to deliver five Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine. Germany is reportedly in talks to directly purchase and supply the US-made systems to fill urgent gaps in Ukraine's long-range interception capabilities. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius recently visited Washington to coordinate on this initiative and discuss expanded missile deployments in Europe.

Read more: US sending Patriot missiles to Ukraine via Germany: Trump

Germany's assistance extends beyond weapons transfers. In a strategic shift, Berlin is now supporting joint production with Ukrainian arms manufacturers to boost domestic output and improve delivery timelines. This industrial cooperation marks a significant step toward building long-term defense resilience in Ukraine.