Washington: Ukraine and its allies are cautiously optimistic following Donald Trump’s surprise pivot to support arming Ukraine but with a catch: the devil, as diplomats say, lies in the details.
In a notable departure from his previous rhetoric praising Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump has proposed a workaround that pleases both sides of the Atlantic on the surface. His plan urges NATO allies to donate vital defense systems to Ukraine, with the U.S. stepping in to sell advanced replacements to those donors.
“We’ll make top-tier weapons, and they’ll be sent to NATO,” Trump said Monday from the Oval Office, pointing to Patriot missile systems long sought by Kyiv as a key priority. Some of those, he noted, could reach Ukraine “within days.”
For Ukrainian leaders, the announcement is a marked shift in tone and commitment from a former U.S. president who until recently questioned aid to Kyiv. Officials in Kyiv expressed cautious relief at the proposal, which comes at a critical moment as Russia intensifies missile strikes and drone attacks across the war-torn country.
Yet, beneath the celebration lies uncertainty. Ten officials across Europe and the U.S. have confirmed that while Trump introduced a broad framework, specific commitments are lacking. There is no definitive timeline or list of donors particularly regarding the prized Patriot air defense batteries nor clarity on logistics or financial terms.
“As always, the devil is in the details,” remarked one European ambassador in Washington.
While NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte joined Trump in championing the new arrangement, several participating countries said they were not briefed before the announcement. Embassies from nations like Finland and Denmark admitted learning of the scheme as Trump revealed it publicly.
Despite the confusion, European countries including Germany, Canada, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, and the UK have signaled openness to participating. Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen confirmed in Brussels, “We are ready to participate.”
But internal resistance persists. Greece and Spain, both previous holdouts on donating Patriots, remain reluctant, citing national defense needs. Germany, meanwhile, said delivery of any Patriots would take months meaning Ukraine may not benefit during the critical summer campaign season.
U.S. officials familiar with the plan say Trump’s team is exploring trade-based incentives to encourage donations. For example, allies could forgo deliveries of their own U.S.-made military orders in return for replenishments, or get expedited shipments of munitions by contributing to Ukraine’s stockpile.
“There’s talk of a ‘trade’ model,” said one official. “But the specifics? Still murky.”
Trump’s assertion that one unnamed country holds 17 Patriot systems sparked confusion. No NATO ally outside the U.S. possesses that number. Pentagon sources suggest he may have been referencing launchers or other system components, rather than full batteries.
Observers say Trump’s maneuver is partly political. During his campaign, he repeatedly called for Europe to shoulder more defense burdens this arrangement allows him to support Ukraine while sticking to that message.
“He found a clever way to align military aid with MAGA politics,” noted Kurt Volker, former U.S. ambassador to NATO.
However, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas took issue with Trump’s framing. “If we pay for these weapons, it’s our support,” she said bluntly, hinting at a rift over who gets credit.
Trump’s more assertive stance toward Putin also reflects a growing belief among U.S. officials that the Russian leader’s ambitions go well beyond eastern Ukraine. As one American source put it: “Trump now realizes Putin isn’t negotiating in good faith.”
Meanwhile, Kremlin insiders told Reuters they’re unmoved by threats or sanctions. “Russia can endure,” they said, referring to potential new tariffs targeting Russian oil buyers.
Back in Washington, Trump remains directly involved in brokering deals, but progress is slow. “So far folks have said, ‘We can help,’” said one insider. “Now, what that means we don’t know.”
As the high-stakes summer battlefield unfolds in Ukraine, Kyiv and its partners are watching closely hopeful, but not yet reassured.