US President Donald Trump announced, during the artificial intelligence summit in Washington, the signing of a major agreement between the United States and the European Union, whereby the EU will fully fund the purchase of American weapons, some of which are intended to be delivered to Ukraine.
This is the first initiative of this kind since the beginning of Trump’s second term, at a time when American support for Kiev had been called into question, and military aid packages had been blocked for months.
"This is how it should have been done three years ago"
"The European Union will spend money here, in the United States, to support our defense companies - something that should have been done three years ago," said Trump, as quoted by Kiev Independent. He emphasized that the weapons will first be delivered to the European Union, which will decide how to distribute them, but the majority are destined for Ukraine.
You can find the statements at minute 15:
The agreement is part of an initiative launched on July 14, supported by NATO, where allies commit to purchasing American weapon systems to support Kiev's defense efforts.
Two new military aid packages for sale
Already on Wednesday, the Trump administration approved the first two military assistance packages for Ukraine in 2025, totaling $322 million. These include:
- HAWK Phase III air defense systems
- Spare parts for Bradley fighting vehicles
The US State Department specified that the sales will not affect America's internal defense capabilities.
A new model of Western support?
The agreement with the European Union signals a shift in Western support for Ukraine, as the Trump administration had previously hesitated to continue direct aid.
This time, Europe becomes the main funder, and the acquisitions will directly support the American defense industry.
Analysts believe that the new mechanism could strengthen transatlantic cohesion around support for Ukraine, while also providing a significant boost to the American military economy.
Previously, France and Italy refused to participate in the new NATO plan to finance American weapons for Ukraine. It remains to be seen if they will change their stance.