Trump’s New Move: Sending Patriot Missiles to Ukraine via NATO
In a surprising twist to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict, former U.S. President Donald Trump announced plans to send advanced weaponry — including the much-talked-about Patriot air defense systems — to Ukraine through NATO. This move, announced in a recent interview with NBC News, signals a nuanced shift in the U.S. approach, with an emphasis on involving NATO allies and sharing the financial burden.
Here’s the scoop:
Trump said, "We're going to be sending Patriots to NATO, and then NATO will distribute that." Importantly, he added that NATO members would cover the costs of these weapons, suggesting a collective effort rather than a unilateral U.S. action.
This announcement came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about having a “positive dialogue” with Trump regarding timely arms deliveries, particularly focusing on air defense. Zelensky himself had requested 10 Patriot missile systems in response to a worrying surge of Russian drone and missile strikes hitting Ukrainian cities.
The Patriot Missile Request: Allies Step Up
Speaking from Rome, Zelensky shared that Germany was ready to pay for two Patriot systems, Norway for one, and that several other European countries were prepared to chip in. This marks a significant moment of unity among NATO partners, stepping up to meet Ukraine's urgent defense needs.
The urgency is clear — Ukrainian cities have been relentlessly targeted by Russian drones and missiles, especially over the last week. In fact, on one recent Tuesday night alone, Ukraine faced a record-breaking 728 drone strikes, with Zelensky warning that Russia might ramp up attacks to as many as 1,000 drones soon.
A Pause on Critical Weapon Shipments: Raising Concerns
However, the situation hasn’t been smooth. Last week, the U.S. Department of Defense hit pause on shipments of some key weapons, including Patriot interceptor missiles and precision artillery shells. This caused significant alarm in Kyiv, with fears that their air defenses could be depleted in a matter of months.
The halt was especially concerning amid the escalating drone attacks, putting extra pressure on Ukraine's already strained defense systems.
Trump’s Reaction and Promise
Responding to this, Trump told NBC, “We have to... they’re getting hit very hard now,” indicating an urgency to ramp up support again. He promised that more weapons would be sent and hinted at a “major statement” about Russia coming up on Monday, though he kept details under wraps.
NATO’s Role and Funding
Trump emphasized that NATO would reimburse the full cost of the weapons sent to Ukraine. Since NATO’s budget comes from its member countries, this approach spreads the financial responsibility across the alliance, easing the burden on any single nation.
Backing this up, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted on Friday that he had been urging countries like Germany and Spain to hand over some of their existing Patriot batteries — which could be deployed to Ukraine more quickly. He added, “We have continued to encourage our NATO allies to provide those weapons... since they have them in their stocks, then we can enter into financial agreements with us where they can purchase the replacements.”
Background: U.S. Aid to Ukraine and NATO Spending
It’s worth noting that since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has been the largest provider of military aid to Ukraine, pumping in roughly $69 billion between 2022 and 2024, according to Germany’s Kiel Institute.
Still, since his return to the White House in January, Trump has pushed to dial back U.S. support for Ukraine. This latest move to send weapons via NATO, rather than directly, fits with his broader strategy of sharing the defense burden with allies.
In fact, Trump has also been a vocal advocate for NATO members to increase their defense spending. Last year, European NATO countries committed to spending at least 2% of their GDP on defense, a pledge aimed at strengthening the alliance’s readiness and reducing reliance on the U.S.
The Diplomatic Side: Conversations with Putin and Russia
On the diplomatic front, Trump revealed after a recent phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin that he was “not happy” about the lack of progress toward ending the war. He complained that Putin’s “very nice” demeanor during the call turned out to be meaningless, showing frustration over stalled peace talks.
Meanwhile, Rubio described his own “frank” discussion with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at a meeting in Malaysia. Rubio echoed Trump’s disappointment over Russia’s inflexibility in peace negotiations but mentioned they exchanged some new ideas that he plans to share with Trump. Still, details on these ideas or the content of Trump’s anticipated “major statement” on Russia remain under wraps.
Why This Matters: Key Takeaways
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NATO as the new delivery system: Trump’s plan to route Patriot missile systems through NATO shows a shift toward burden-sharing among allies, moving away from direct U.S. shipments.
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Financial implications: NATO member countries will cover the costs, easing the financial load on the U.S., but also deepening the alliance’s collective responsibility.
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Urgent defense needs: The surge in Russian drone attacks has put immense pressure on Ukraine’s air defenses, highlighting why the Patriot systems are crucial.
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Weapon shipment pause: The temporary halt in U.S. weapons shipments, including critical air defense missiles, sparked concerns about Ukraine’s capacity to defend itself.
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Diplomatic tensions: Despite ongoing talks, progress toward peace remains stalled, with frustration evident on both sides.
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NATO spending push: Trump’s pressure on NATO allies to meet defense spending targets remains a key part of his broader security strategy.
The Human Toll: Civilians Caught in the Crossfire
June 2025 marked the deadliest month for Ukrainian civilians in three years, with 232 people killed and over 1,300 wounded, according to the UN. This grim statistic underlines the urgency behind military support and the global community’s focus on protecting Ukrainian lives.
President Zelensky has described Patriot missile systems as “real protectors of life,” emphasizing the critical role these weapons play in shielding civilians from deadly attacks.
Wrapping Up
As the conflict grinds on, Trump’s announcement to send Patriot missiles via NATO adds an intriguing layer to U.S. involvement, highlighting the delicate balancing act between supporting Ukraine, managing alliances, and negotiating peace. While the devil’s in the details of what Trump’s “major statement” might entail, one thing is clear — the war in Ukraine remains a critical issue with far-reaching implications for global security and diplomacy.
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