Reuters: Military aid to Ukraine has not decreased despite changes in US policy, says NATO official
A NATO official has said that weapons deliveries to Ukraine have not dropped despite changes in US policy following Donald Trump's return to power.
Source: Major General Maik Keller, Deputy Commander of NATO's Security Assistance and Training for Ukraine (NSATU), in a comment to Reuters, as reported by European Pravda
Details: After taking office in January, the Trump administration stopped providing Ukraine with free military equipment, instead selling arms through the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) programme or delivering assistance previously approved under Joe Biden.
Asked whether there had been a reduction in military aid deliveries since Trump halted free assistance, Keller replied: "No, nothing."
"There was no pause... it was just continuing and it's not that the US exactly waits until it is paid for. As soon as one (PURL) package is announced, the flow of material is starting," he said.
Keller noted that in 2025, NSATU has delivered around 220,000 tonnes of military aid to Kyiv, amounting to approximately 9,000 truckloads, 1,800 railway wagons and 500 aircraft carrying weapons, ammunition and other supplies. No year-on-year comparison was available, as NSATU only began coordinating assistance a year ago.
"It's never enough. But at least it's enough to keep Ukraine in the fight," he added.
While most of the assistance currently flows through a hub in the Polish city of Rzeszów, Keller said that by the end of January, a second centre in Romania is expected to come under NATO command.
Background:
- Recently, the US Senate overwhelmingly passed the National Defence Authorisation Act for 2026, which provides for a record defence budget.
- The annual defence policy bill was approved by the upper chamber of Congress following broad bipartisan support, after it had been passed by the House of Representatives last week.
- The bill also includes US$400 million for Pentagon efforts to arm and equip the Ukrainian military, despite attempts by Trump to pressure Kyiv into reaching a deal with Moscow to end the war.
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