Europe to buy $1B in U.S. weapons for Ukraine as Trump shifts approach

In a sign of President Trump’s evolving strategy toward Ukraine, four European countries are collectively purchasing around $1 billion in American-made weapons to support Kyiv, as direct U.S. arms transfers wane, according to multiple press reports.

The purchases — split between the Netherlands and a joint deal by Denmark, Sweden and Norway — were brokered by NATO and follow a July agreement between Trump and NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. The weapons packages will include air defense systems, ammunition and Patriot interceptors.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky acknowledged the deals Tuesday after a phone call with Trump, saying they discussed “bilateral defense cooperation with America.”

While Trump has resisted the Biden-era model of sending weapons directly from U.S. stockpiles to Ukraine, he has embraced selling arms to NATO allies who then supply them to Kyiv.

NATO has compiled a prioritized list of Ukraine’s equipment needs, which it is now dividing into $500 million packages for funding by European allies and Canada. NATO, in coordination with U.S. Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, will oversee that the supplies match Ukraine’s requirements.

Deliveries from past U.S. commitments under the Biden administration are still moving through Poland. Though some were briefly paused in June for a Pentagon review, they have since resumed. Meanwhile, under a separate U.S.-Germany deal, Kyiv will soon receive two additional Patriot systems, with Germany getting fast-tracked access to newer models in return.

Trump’s approach reflects a broader shift: encouraging Europe to bear more of the defense burden, while maintaining support for Ukraine through allied coordination rather than unilateral U.S. action. More NATO members are expected to announce similar contributions soon.