European allies first heard about the proposal of US President Donald Trump to send their weapons to Ukraine, and in return buy weapons from the United States, right during Trump's speech. It was reported by Reuters on Wednesday, July 16.
According to the sources of the publication, Trump presented the scheme, but without specific decisions on providing Ukraine with weapons. According to his plan, European allies should donate their stocks and replenish them with the purchase of American weapons. Any support for Ukraine will depend on future negotiations about who provides what equipment, according to 10 officials in the United States and Europe.
"As always with these things, the devil is in the details," said one Northern European ambassador in Washington.
Senior sources in the countries' embassies in the United States told Reuters that they personally learned of the plan as soon as it was announced. Even close US allies appear to have learned about the offer in real time.
"It is my clear sense that nobody has been briefed about the exact details in advance. I also suspect that internally in the administration they are only now beginning to sort out what it means in practice," said a separate European ambassador.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, during a meeting with Trump in the Oval Office on July 14, named six Alliance countries that are ready to participate in the arms procurement scheme – Finland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands and Canada.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, on July 14, US President Donald Trump said that Ukraine would receive 17 MIM-104 Patriot air defense systems.
On July 15, Trump said that he was disappointed with vladimir putin.
On July 16, Trump said that the first Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems for Ukraine had already left for the allies.
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