Potential Plan for Aerial Defense Aid to Ukraine
United States military and NATO officials are currently in discussions about a potential plan that could be announced in the coming days. This plan aims to provide Ukraine with essential aerial defense weapons, including the Patriot system. The proposal involves channeling U.S. weapons through the European alliance, according to officials involved in the talks.
The concept of NATO purchasing weapons from the U.S., which has been supported by former President Donald Trump, comes at a time when there has been significant uncertainty regarding Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s intense air attacks without advanced U.S. air defense systems. Despite this, the plan is still under development, and it remains unclear whether the U.S. intends to withdraw weapons from its own military stockpiles to sell to European allies. This approach could offer immediate assistance to Ukraine, but defense officials have previously raised concerns about the availability of certain weapons in the U.S. inventory.
According to reports, a senior NATO military official and another U.S. official confirmed that discussions are ongoing about how to make this plan viable. The senior NATO official mentioned that President Trump has discussed this issue not only with the press but also with the NATO Secretary General, who is working with Allies to ensure Ukraine receives the necessary support. The official emphasized that this includes urgent efforts to procure key supplies from the U.S., such as air defense and ammunition. He added that NATO has established mechanisms that could facilitate such an arrangement.
In addition, a U.S. official revealed that NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte held a conference call with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Dan Caine, and Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the top military commander for U.S. and NATO forces in Europe. The purpose of the call was to explore possible ways to deliver aid to Ukraine.
During an interview with NBC News, Trump suggested that the idea of selling weapons to NATO was already finalized. “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” he stated, adding that an announcement regarding Russia was expected on Monday.
Meanwhile, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking at the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia, proposed an alternative option. He suggested that Europeans could ship their own air defense systems to Ukraine immediately and then purchase replacements from the U.S. This approach could help expedite the delivery of critical equipment to Ukraine.
Earlier this month, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy indicated that he was actively working with Germany to accelerate decisions on receiving the air defense systems Ukraine requires. Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was scheduled to visit the Pentagon for discussions with Hegseth on Monday.
These developments highlight the ongoing efforts by various international actors to support Ukraine amid the continued conflict with Russia. As the situation evolves, the focus remains on ensuring that Ukraine has the necessary tools to defend itself and maintain stability in the region.