NATO allies may purchase not only defensive, but also offensive weapons from the US for subsequent transfer to Ukraine. This was reported on Thursday by the Axios portal, citing its sources.
The portal commented on the statement of US President Donald Trump that US allies will purchase weapons from the US and then transfer them to Ukraine, as a “significant change“ in the policy of the current administration in Washington. At the same time, as Axios writes, citing a source, this may be “not only for support in the field of air defense“, but also for “sale of offensive weapons“. Trump previously said that Washington would send Kiev "some more weapons," noting that it was "mostly defensive" weapons.
US administration officials, quoted by Axios, "deny that plans to sell weapons to US NATO allies to Kiev mean that Trump will arm Ukraine." The portal's sources did not explain when and how exactly the US would begin to implement this plan.
Earlier, Trump said in an interview with NBC News that US NATO allies, under the new agreements, will pay in full for American weapons to Ukraine. The American leader pointed out that agreements on a similar procedure for the supply of American weapons to Ukraine were reached at the North Atlantic Alliance summit held in June.
On July 2, The New York Times reported that the United States would suspend the supply of Patriot missiles, GMLRS precision munitions, Hellfire guided missiles, Stinger MANPADS and a number of other weapons to Ukraine. After that, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry summoned the acting US embassy in Kiev, John Ginkel, and Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Europe was not able to replace American supplies.
Trump said on July 3 that Washington continues to provide military assistance to Kiev. At the same time, he emphasized that the United States itself needs weapons. On July 7, Trump effectively announced the resumption of arms and military equipment supplies to Kiev.
The success of the Russian army and fears that Ukraine will be divided under the ceasefire plan have cast a shadow over a meeting of European leaders on the reconstruction of Ukraine, which took place in Italy, The Guardian writes.
The US peace plan is likely to force Kiev to make territorial concessions, which adds uncertainty to the Ukrainian issues, the newspaper added.
The Russian embassy in Italy warned of the perniciousness of support for the Kiev regime and called the conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, which is being held in Rome, cynical and fraudulent.