Trump Announces 2024 Weapons Support for Ukraine Through NATO with Full Reimbursement Plan

Kokcha News Agency reports that former President Donald Trump announced a significant shift in U.S. support for Ukraine, stating that he will supply weapons to Kyiv through NATO, with NATO footing the bill. In an interview with NBC News, Trump mentioned that he expects to deliver a “major statement” on Russia next Monday, though he did not elaborate further.

Trump explained that for the first time since returning to office, he plans to authorize weapons shipments to Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority, which allows the president to draw from U.S. military stockpiles during emergencies. The weapons—potentially around $300 million worth—could include Patriot missile systems and medium-range rockets, though no final decisions have been made yet.

He further claimed that the U.S. would send weapons to NATO, and NATO would reimburse the full cost, emphasizing cooperation and financial involvement of the alliance. “We send weapons to NATO, and NATO pays for those weapons,” Trump stated.

This move marks a departure from the Biden administration’s approach, which authorized weapons deliveries directly from U.S. stocks based on existing agreements. Trump also criticized U.S. spending on Ukraine, occasionally expressing sympathy for Russia and clashing publicly with Ukraine’s leadership but also voicing support for Kyiv at times.

Amidst these developments, Russia launched intense missile and drone attacks across Ukraine, especially targeting Kyiv, resulting in casualties and widespread damage. Ukrainian President Zelenskiy called the attacks “terror,” noting approximately 400 drones and 18 missiles were used.

At the same time, Ukraine received over €10 billion ($12 billion) in aid pledges during a conference in Rome, with U.S. and European countries committing funds for reconstruction and military support. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, during talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Malaysia, urged Moscow to show more flexibility and explore a pathway toward ending the conflict.