DistantNews
Support us
🇸🇬 Singapore /Economy & Trade

Trump says US will seek repayment from Europe for Ukraine aid

From CNA · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • President Donald Trump said the United States would ask European countries to repay the cost of military aid and ammunition previously sent to Ukraine.
  • Trump said Washington was retaining munitions for its own use while increasing production and stockpiles, though sales to allies would resume.
  • The comments came as oil prices rose amid concerns about Middle East supply disruptions and as officials cited pressure on US weapons inventories.

Donald Trump said the United States would seek payment from European countries for military aid and ammunition supplied to Ukraine during the war with Russia, while indicating that Washington was temporarily keeping munitions for itself.

In a social media post on Sept. 3, Trump said the United States was taking ammunition for its own needs rather than selling it to other countries. He added that sales to allies would resume soon. He blamed the administration of former President Joe Biden for giving Ukraine and NATO “hundreds of billions of dollars” free of charge, saying Europe would have paid if it had been asked.

We are taking them for ourselves, the U.S.A., rather than selling them to others, but the sales to Allies will soon again, begin.

· Donald TrumpTrump said the United States was retaining munitions while preparing to resume sales to allied countries.

The United States and NATO created the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List initiative last year. Under the arrangement, European countries pay for US weapons supplied to Ukraine. Trump’s remarks would seek additional repayment for earlier assistance.

The comments also addressed reports that US ammunition stocks had been heavily depleted during the separate war involving Iran. Reuters reported last month that the US Army had used much of its stockpile of highly accurate long-range missiles during the Iran war, prompting concerns about readiness for future conflicts. Trump said the United States was increasing production and rebuilding its stockpiles.

Hundreds of billions of dollars was given to Ukraine and NATO, free of charge, that Europe would have paid for, if they were only asked, but we will be asking for that money, though somewhat belatedly!

· Donald TrumpHe said Europe should repay the United States for earlier military assistance.

The wars in Ukraine and Iran, along with their economic effects, could influence whether Trump’s fellow Republicans retain control of both chambers of Congress next year. Oil prices reached fresh six-week highs on Thursday after new US strikes on Iran and renewed Israeli threats against Tehran revived fears of disruptions to Middle East supplies, while vessels remained slowed in the Strait of Hormuz.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent attributed part of the rise in oil and gas prices to Ukraine’s attacks on Russian energy facilities and refined products, as well as to the conflict involving Iran.

We are going through an energy shock right now due to both the war in Ukraine and then the conflict in Iran.

· Scott BessentThe Treasury secretary linked current energy price pressures to both wars.
About this summary

Originally published by CNA in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

More Stories

From Our Blog