U.S. President Donald Trump introduced a new approach to supplying weapons to Ukraine, urging European partners to donate their weapons in exchange for American equivalents. According to reports, Trump outlined a framework program rather than a detailed action plan, and even the closest U.S. allies learned about this initiative in real time.
One of the biggest challenges is determining who will give up critical systems such as Patriot missile batteries. The U.S. is also ready to provide additional offensive weapons, but Trump emphasized that Ukraine should avoid attacks on Moscow.
The plan, developed by Trump in cooperation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, received positive feedback from Ukraine and its allies. Leaders in Kyiv and other countries noted changes in the American president’s rhetoric.
“But after the announcement, it became clear that Trump presented a framework program rather than a detailed plan. How significant any support for Ukraine will be depends on future negotiations about who will provide which equipment, according to 10 officials in the U.S. and Europe.”
– Reuters
One Northern European ambassador in Washington noted that “the devil is in the details,” and the central question remains who and when will donate Patriot batteries.
During a meeting in the Oval Office, Rutte named six NATO countries – Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and Canada – that are ready to join the weapons procurement program. Representatives of the embassies of two of these countries in the U.S. confirmed they learned about the plan immediately after its announcement.
“I have a clear feeling that no one was informed in advance about the exact details, and I also suspect that within the administration they are only now beginning to figure out what this means in practice.”
– European Ambassador
Former U.S. Ambassador to NATO Kurt Volker noted that Trump found a way to balance support for Ukraine with the political realities of the Republican Party. He emphasized that European allies’ guarantees to supply American weapons align with Trump’s campaign promises.
Volker also suggested that Ukraine could receive between 12 and 13 Patriot batteries, but their delivery could take up to a year.
A NATO representative stated that coordination of weapons deliveries will take place through the “NATO Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine” mechanism based in Germany. Several European countries, including Germany, Norway, Denmark, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Finland, have already confirmed their support for this initiative.
The Pentagon confirmed Trump’s statements about the agreement with Rutte, while the White House, as well as the embassies of Ukraine and Russia in Washington, did not provide comments.
American officials noted that the strengthening of Trump’s rhetoric toward Moscow is linked to the realization that Russian President Vladimir Putin has ambitions beyond Crimea and the eastern regions of Ukraine.
Three sources close to the Kremlin stated that Putin will not stop the war under Western pressure and believe that Russia can withstand further economic sanctions, including possible U.S. tariffs on Russian oil.
Currently, American officials are negotiating with NATO allies to determine who and what weapons they are willing to provide to Ukraine. European representatives generally view this initiative positively.
“We are ready to participate.”
– Lars Løkke Rasmussen, Danish Minister of Foreign Affairs
Among the potential candidates to transfer Patriot batteries are Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, and Spain. The latter two countries previously opposed transferring their systems, citing the need to protect their own territory and NATO.
The Trump administration is currently reviewing NATO’s existing stockpiles and plans to persuade allies to donate equipment in exchange for certain concessions, including delayed deliveries or ammunition exchanges.
On July 14, the U.S. and NATO signed an agreement providing for the supply of American weapons to Ukraine at the expense of European countries. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that Kyiv could receive a significant number of air defense systems, missiles, and ammunition.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized the need for Patriot systems. In April 2024, he announced readiness to purchase 10 such systems for $15 billion, as well as possible assistance from European partners in financing.
In May, Zelensky reported that the U.S. had not yet responded to the proposal to sell Patriot SAMs. In early July, during a conversation with Trump, the possibility of receiving these systems and missiles for them was discussed, which the American president also confirmed.
The head of state also appealed to the U.S. to grant licenses for the production of Patriot systems in Ukraine, but so far there have been no concrete results.