NYT: Ukraine to receive US weapons through new NATO scheme

NATO allies are set to purchase American-made arms and deliver them directly to Kyiv, under a new arrangement announced by U.S. President Donald Trump.

The scheme, unveiled during a meeting at the White House with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, includes Patriot air defence systems, missiles and other ammunition, Caliber.Az reports via The New York Times.

Most of the weapons are immediately available, either from existing stockpiles or recent production, according to U.S. officials.

"It’s a very big deal we’ve made," Trump said. "You have very wealthy countries buying the best equipment in the world, and we have the best equipment in the world. We make equipment like no other."

Rutte confirmed that at least eight NATO members were prepared to contribute, thanking Trump for facilitating the deal and noting, "But you do want Europeans to pay for it, which is totally logical."

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine welcomed the announcement and said further defence agreements were being negotiated with the U.S., though details remain undisclosed.

Germany and Norway are among the countries set to provide Patriot batteries, while one unnamed country is reportedly offering 17 Patriot launchers, according to Trump.

Other potential weapons could include ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile Systems) and JASSMs (Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles), both of which are capable of striking targets at long distances.

Ukraine currently operates about eight Patriot systems, although not all are functional. The Patriots are seen as critical to intercepting Russian ballistic missiles and defending urban areas beyond Kyiv.

"Should the Patriot systems be shipped to Ukraine immediately, as Trump has indicated, they will have a more decisive effect on the battlefield," said Torrey Taussig of the Atlantic Council.

A single Patriot battery can cost around $1 billion, with interceptor missiles priced at $3.7 million each. Trump described the deal as "billions of dollars' worth of military equipment that’s going to be purchased from the United States, going to NATO. And that’s going to be quickly distributed to the battlefield."

Rutte reassured that Pentagon sales would not undermine U.S. defence: "Whatever the Pentagon sells from its own stockpiles would not reduce what is necessary to defend this country."

"This will mean that Ukraine can get its hands on really massive numbers of military equipment," he added.

By Aghakazim Guliyev