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Europe seeks genuine US burden-sharing of arming Ukraine amid Trump’s weapons promise

eu chief kallas

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that Washington should “share the burden” of arms deliveries to Ukraine rather than expecting European allies to fund American weapons purchases.

This comes as President Trump announced a $10 billion weapons package for Ukraine on 14 July. This NATO-coordinated military aid, which includes up to 17 Patriot air defense systems, is planned to be funded and distributed primarily by European NATO allies. For example, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, and the Netherlands have already committed to purchasing US-made Patriots to supply Ukraine. Europe is also considering using profits from nearly €200 billion of frozen Russian assets to fund the $10 billion weapons package. 

“We welcome President Trump’s announcement to send more weapons to Ukraine, although we would like to see US to share the burden. America and Europe are working together,” Kallas said after a Brussels meeting of EU foreign ministers on 15 July.

NATO maintains that Europe now contributes the majority of weapons flowing to Ukraine, countering Trump’s characterization of burden distribution. 

According to Kallas, “If you promise to provide weapons but say someone else will pay for them, then you’re not actually providing them.”

Trump also offered to supply Ukraine with long-range Tomahawk missiles as part of a broader $10 billion NATO-backed military aid package.

However, Ukrainian military intelligence noted that Ukraine lacks the necessary launch platforms such as strategic bombers or combat ships to effectively deploy these missiles. 

Previously, Trump had emphasized supplying only defensive weapons and was cautious about escalating the conflict with Russia. However, growing frustration with Russian President Putin’s rejection of peace efforts and intensifying Russian attacks on civilians appears to have changed his stance.

 

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