Trump Says Europe Should Repay US for Ukraine Weapons Aid

US President Donald Trump said recently that he would seek reimbursement from European nations for US military aid and munitions previously sent to Ukraine, as Washington reassesses weapons supplies amid the continuing war with Russia, Reuters reported.

US President Donald Trump says European nations should reimburse the United States for military aid previously supplied to Ukraine. [Photo: Dati Bendo / European Union, 2025 / EC - Audiovisual Service]

Trump also criticized reports that US ammunition and missile stockpiles had been significantly depleted by the separate war in Iran, saying the United States was increasing production and stockpiling weapons.

"We are taking them for ourselves, the USA, rather than selling them to others, but the sales to Allies will soon again, begin," Trump wrote.

He also said the United States had provided "hundreds of billions of dollars" to Ukraine and NATO without receiving payment, blaming the administration of former President Joe Biden.

The United States and NATO already have a mechanism under which European countries finance purchases of US weapons for Ukraine.

The Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, initiative was developed last year to allow European allies to fund the provision of US-made weapons to Kyiv.

Reuters reported in August that the US Army had used a significant portion of its stockpile of accurate long-range missiles during the Iran war, raising concerns about military readiness for future conflicts.

Trump's comments suggest that Washington intends to prioritize replenishing US inventories before resuming some weapons sales to foreign allies. He said sales to allies would resume soon.

The two wars have also affected energy markets.

Oil prices rose to six-week highs on Thursday as renewed US strikes on Iran and Israeli threats against Tehran increased concerns about supply disruptions, while shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remained constrained.