President Trump said a deal was made with NATO to send weapons to Ukraine, with the alliance covering the cost.
“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%. 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,” Mr. Trump said in a phone interview with NBC News’ “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker Thursday.
He said the deal was reached during the NATO summit last month.
“We send weapons to NATO, and NATO is going to reimburse the full cost of those weapons,” Mr. Trump said.
Shipments of weapons to Ukraine resumed this week after the Pentagon stopped a shipment, citing concerns for America’s own stockpile.
The pause, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, seemed to shock others in the administration. When Mr. Trump was asked who paused the munitions, he said, “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
He said the next day that he hadn’t thought about it.
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte slammed Russia’s continuous attacks on Ukraine as “deplorable.”
“Earlier today I urged leaders to go further so Ukraine has more ammunition & air defences,” he said in a social media post. “I’ve spoken with President Trump & am now working closely with Allies to get Ukraine the help they need.”
Mr. Trump has railed against the Russia-Ukraine war and has said he’s not happy about Russia’s latest bombing.
He said in the interview that he’s “disappointed in Russia, but we’ll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.”
“I think I’ll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,” he said, but didn’t elaborate.
