Europe considers alternative paths to arm Ukraine if Trump blocks U.S. weapons — The Washington Post

Volodymyr Zelensky and Mark Rutte at the NATO summit. Photo: president.gov.ua

European officials are working on backup plans to purchase American weapons for Ukraine in case President Donald Trump’s administration decides not to authorize new arms deliveries, The Washington Post reports, citing three sources.

According to them, allies hope to persuade Washington to approve sales to Kyiv either for cash or on credit. However, the decision will ultimately rest with Trump, whose advisers remain wary of actions that could hinder efforts to restore relations with Russia.

Even if the U.S. blocks new weapon deliveries, it is expected to continue providing intelligence and logistics support, including transportation of heavy arms.

European countries could theoretically compensate for much of the lost U.S. aid — but doing so, officials admit, would require major financial and logistical effort.

“We need to simultaneously increase our own stocks and ensure supplies to Ukraine,” one European official said.

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