President Donald Trump said on July 10 that he has struck a new deal with NATO under which the United States will supply weapons to Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia, adding that the alliance will pay for the weapons.
Trump made the comments during an interview with NBC News, where he also expressed disappointment with Russian President Vladimir Putin over the lack of progress toward ending the conflict, which began in February 2022.“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent,” Trump said. “So what we’re doing is the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons.”
Trump said the deal was finalized during the NATO summit last month.
“We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons,” he added.
Trump also said he plans to make a major statement about Russia on July 14. He declined to provide further details regarding the statement.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirmed he had spoken to Trump earlier in the day and is “now working closely with Allies to get Ukraine the help they need.”