On July 14, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump introduced a revised strategy for supporting Ukraine, under which military aid will be delivered through NATO while the funding will come from European allies. For the first time, aid will follow a model where the U.S. supplies weapons, and Europe foots the bill.
“We’re sending weapons to NATO countries. They pay 100% of the cost, and then deliver the weapons to Ukraine,” Trump explained at a press conference in Washington. According to him, the new model allows Washington to avoid depleting its own defense stockpiles while still backing allied efforts in Europe.
The agreement was reached during the NATO summit held in The Hague in June and reflects the White House’s broader goal of rebalancing the financial burden within the alliance. Key countries including Germany and Norway have already expressed readiness to purchase U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems for transfer to Ukraine. Germany, in particular, has committed to buying additional batteries worth about $2 billion.
Each Patriot battery is a sophisticated system that includes radar, launchers, and a command center, capable of intercepting both ballistic and cruise missiles. The U.S. remains the world’s largest holder of these systems, and the new arrangement positions it as a central logistics hub.
This renewed support for Ukraine follows a temporary pause earlier this year, during which Trump had suspended direct shipments citing the need to “reassess the condition of U.S. stockpiles.” However, escalating hostilities and growing Ukrainian needs prompted a shift in strategy.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed the new scheme, stating that “the alliance is acting swiftly and in unison” to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses amid increasing threats. He confirmed that upcoming deliveries will include not only air defense systems but also ammunition, drones, and electronic warfare equipment.
The new model appears to be a compromise between Trump’s campaign rhetoric about reducing America’s global obligations and the practical need to respond to geopolitical realities. Washington is now acting more as a supplier than a sponsor — an approach that may reshape the architecture of transatlantic security.
