NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte called on NATO member states to increase purchases of US-made weapons to support Ukraine. The call was made during a remote meeting of the Contact Group on Ukraine on July 21, 2025, according to the NATO press service.
Rutte stressed that this initiative will not only strengthen Ukraine's defence but also fulfil key commitments made at the NATO Summit in The Hague. These commitments include increasing investment in defence, expanding defence production capabilities and deepening support for Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression.
According to Rutte, the purchase of US weapons is a strategic move that will combine these objectives into one coherent initiative that will strengthen the security of the entire alliance.
During the meeting, Rutte recalled the initiative he presented together with US President Donald J. Trump during their meeting in Washington last week. The initiative is designed to ensure a greater flow of US weapons to Ukraine through financial investment by European allies and Canada.
Rutte said that such an approach would allow for an efficient use of NATO resources while supporting the Ukrainian army in key areas such as modern weapons systems and logistics.
The NATO Press Service stressed that this strategy responds to the need to rapidly reinforce the Ukrainian Armed Forces in response to the ongoing conflict. The initiative will also encourage European and Canadian investment in the US defence industry, which could have positive economic implications for transatlantic relations.
During his meeting with Rutt, US President Donald Trump announced a significant change in US policy. The United States is moving from providing arms to Ukraine free of charge to a model where arms will be sold, with funding for these purchases to be provided by European countries and Canada.
This shift reflects a desire by the US to reduce its direct financial burden in support of Ukraine, while retaining a key role in the supply of military equipment. Trump emphasized that this model will ensure sustainability of support while strengthening cooperation among allies. Rutte added that this change will allow for better coordination within NATO and ensure that support to Ukraine is sustainable in the long term.
NATO's press service also said the U.S. arms purchases could include advanced systems such as anti-aircraft missiles, artillery ammunition and other equipment essential to Ukraine's defense. The move is also intended to encourage standardization of weapons systems across the alliance, which will facilitate logistics and training.
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