❓WHAT HAPPENED: The United States is selling weapons to NATO allies who are then transferring them to Ukraine, amid intensified Russian drone and missile attacks.
👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: President Donald J. Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, NATO allies, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and Ukrainian and Russian forces.
📍WHEN & WHERE: Recent weeks, with statements from Trump and Rubio on Thursday and Friday, and Russian attacks reported in Kharkov, Odessa, and Kiev.
💬KEY QUOTE: “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent.” – Donald Trump
🎯IMPACT: NATO allies are coordinating with the U.S. to supply Ukraine with critical defense systems, while Russia increases its aerial and ground offensives.
The United States is advancing military support for Ukraine through an indirect strategy: selling American-made weapons to NATO allies, who then pass those arms on to Ukrainian forces. In a recent interview, President Donald J. Trump confirmed the approach, highlighting that NATO allies are covering the expenses. “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent,” Trump said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio provided more context, explaining that transferring weapons already stationed in Europe enables faster delivery to Ukraine compared to shipping new equipment from the United States. “It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine than it is to order it from a [U.S.] factory and get it there,” Rubio stated.
Amid intensified Russian airstrikes, including a recent night in which more than 700 drones were launched, Ukraine has appealed for additional military aid, especially Patriot air defense systems. Cities such as Kharkov and Odessa have suffered casualties and infrastructure damage as a result of ongoing attacks.
Rubio noted that NATO members like Germany and Spain, which already operate Patriot systems, are in a position to send some of their current inventory to Ukraine. In turn, these countries are ordering new systems from the U.S. to replace what they have given. He outlined how these financial arrangements allow NATO countries to assist Ukraine without depleting their own defense readiness.
It is unclear how many Patriot missile systems are currently available to Ukraine. One report suggests the United States has only 25 percent of the Patriot missile systems needed for its own use. The stockpile has allegedly fallen so low that some are concerned it could harm American military operations.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western partners to accelerate their assistance, emphasizing Ukraine’s urgent need for both equipment and funds. “We need financing. And then, we will intercept,” Zelensky said.
President Trump is also, for the first time, using Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to resupply Ukraine directly from Pentagon stocks, as he grows increasingly frustrated with Russia’s “bulls**t” in peace negotiations.
Join Pulse+ to comment below, and receive exclusive e-mail analyses.
