U.S. Arms Sales to NATO Meant to Bolster Ukraine Defense, Trump and Rubio Say

President Donald Trump has confirmed that the U.S. is selling military equipment to NATO allies who then pass it on to Ukraine, expediting the flow of weapons to a country under increasing assault from Russian forces. 

“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” Trump said during a Thursday interview with NBC. “Then NATO is giving those weapons to Ukraine.”

The move reflects a strategic workaround that allows faster delivery of much-needed defensive systems. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking in Kuala Lumpur on Friday, explained that some U.S.-made weapons already in European NATO arsenals—especially Patriot missile systems—can be transferred to Ukraine more quickly than producing and shipping new ones from the U.S. Rubio stated, "Moving something from Germany to Ukraine is significantly faster than from a U.S. factory."

The new strategy comes as Ukraine faces one of its most dangerous phases in the war. Russian forces have escalated aerial attacks, including record-setting waves of drones and missiles. 

This week, Russian forces launched over 700 attack and decoy drones in a single day. Civilians continue to bear the brunt; June saw the highest monthly civilian casualties in three years, with 232 deaths and over 1,300 wounded, according to the U.N.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is calling for the urgent delivery of at least 10 additional Patriot systems to bolster air defenses. Germany and Norway have pledged three so far. 

As cities like Kharkiv and Odesa reel from daily drone strikes and hospitals are damaged, Kyiv is pushing Western partners to deliver on promises made during recent international summits.

With NATO members stepping in to reroute U.S.-made weapons to Ukraine, Washington aims to reinforce Ukraine’s defense without delays while continuing to pressure Moscow’s advances on the 1,000-kilometer front.