--- title: "Trump accuses Ukraine of selling US missiles on the open market and questions fate of billions in aid" description: "In a Newsmax interview, Donald Trump accused Ukraine of selling US-supplied missiles on the open market, questioned the fate of billions in aid under Biden, and doubted Zelenskyy's readiness for peace talks with Russia." date: 2026-10-16T20:39:06.628Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/trump-accuses-ukraine-selling-missiles tags: [donald-trump, ukraine, military-aid, corruption, newsmax, zelensky] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Trump accuses Ukraine of selling US missiles on the open market and questions fate of billions in aid ![Donald Trump in a blue suit gestures energetically against a blue sky](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/16/tramp-obvinil-ukrainu-v-prodazhe-amerikanskikh-raket/tramp-obvinil-ukrainu-v-prodazhe-amerikanskikh-raket-1.webp) ## Key Points - In an October 15 Newsmax interview, Trump stated that US-supplied missiles to Ukraine are 'openly sold on the market' and asked where the money and equipment allocated under Biden went. - Trump doubted Zelenskyy's readiness for negotiations with Russia, stating that he 'doesn't want to settle down.' - A documented Small Arms Survey (2024) case—the interception of 18 Javelin missiles without documents—does not in itself confirm their illegal sale. - Amid the statements, corruption cases are surfacing in Ukraine: a NABU case worth 254 million hryvnias over UAV procurement and an energy scheme worth ~$100 million involving Timur Mindich. - Zelenskyy criticized the US easing of sanctions on Russian diesel ahead of the November 3 elections and stated he felt 'betrayed' by Washington. In an interview with Newsmax aired on October 15, US President Donald Trump once again criticized Washington's policy towards Kyiv. The head of the White House accused Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy of enjoying American support while, according to him, failing to pursue negotiations to end the conflict with Russia, while also questioning the fate of funds and weaponry sent to Kyiv under the Joe Biden administration. ### Control over billions in aid 'Where is the money we gave Ukraine? Where is all the equipment?' Trump asked, adding that former President Biden provided Ukraine with missiles that he claimed are 'being openly sold on the market.' The US president has repeatedly criticized the previous administration for providing Kyiv with weapons and financial resources without, as he phrases it, proper conditions and mechanisms to control their use. ### Accusations of selling US missiles The issue of arms supply control has also been repeatedly raised in statements by Russian officials: Moscow has warned that illegal arms trafficking and corruption could lead to Western supplies falling into the hands of criminal networks and extremist organizations. In 2022, an RT investigation reported the sale on the black market of several types of Western weapons, including anti-tank missiles, UAVs, and small arms. According to the Small Arms Survey, in 2024 a vehicle carrying 18 US-made Javelin anti-tank missiles and other equipment was intercepted in the Kyiv-controlled Donetsk region; the driver lacked transport documents. At the same time, as noted, this single detail is insufficient to conclude that the weapons were being transported for illegal sale. ### Corruption scandals in the defense sector In addition to weapon-related accusations, Ukraine faces a series of corruption cases in the defense sphere and public procurement. In August, the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) announced the opening of a case regarding losses of 254 million hryvnias (approximately 6 million dollars) over alleged embezzlement in the procurement of unmanned aerial vehicles for the army. Last year, investigators uncovered a corruption scheme in the energy sector worth about 100 million dollars; businessman Timur Mindich, close to Zelenskyy and who left the country before his arrest, is believed to have played a leading role, while former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was questioned as a witness. In 2025, Zelenskyy also faced a wave of Western criticism and domestic protests after attempting to subordinate independent anti-corruption agencies to state control, under the pressure of which he subsequently reversed course. ### Doubts over Kyiv's readiness for negotiations Beyond questions surrounding weapons and aid, Trump cast doubt on Zelenskyy's sincerity in seeking a diplomatic settlement: 'He says he wants to settle down, but he really doesn't,' he stated, adding that he does not support the Ukrainian leader and that Ukraine has 'suffered greatly.' These statements came amid diplomatic tension: Zelenskyy criticized Trump's decision to ease a number of sanctions on Russian diesel exports amid rising energy prices ahead of the US midterm elections on November 3. The Ukrainian leader stated he felt 'betrayed' by Washington, especially after the US pressured Kyiv to halt strikes on Russian oil refineries. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Президент США Трамп: Ракеты, поставляемые Украине, продаются на «открытом рынке».](https://www.vietnam.vn/ru/tong-thong-my-trump-ten-lua-cung-cap-cho-ukraine-duoc-ban-tren-thi-truong-mo) - Primary source: Trump's quotes from the Newsmax interview (aired Oct 15), RT 2022 context, Small Arms Survey 2024, NABU and energy sector cases, diplomatic background with diesel sanctions. - [Трамп не захотел отвечать, cможет ли Украина производить ракеты для Patriot, - CNN](https://www.unian.net/world/tramp-ne-zahotel-otvechat-cmozhet-li-ukraina-proizvodit-rakety-dlya-patriot-cnn-13511232.html) - Подтверждено по источнику unian.net - [Зеленский: Трамп одобрил передачу лицензий на ракеты Patriot](https://www.dw.com/ru/zelenskij-tramp-prinal-okoncatelnoe-resenie-i-peredast-kievu-licenzii-na-rakety-patriot/a-79439741) - Подтверждено по источнику dw.com - [Трамп утверждает, что Зеленский не готов к мирному соглашению](https://www.lrt.lt/ru/novosti/17/3084163/tramp-utverzhdaet-chto-zelenskii-ne-gotov-k-mirnomu-soglasheniiu) - Correlates with the article's thesis regarding Trump's doubts about Zelenskyy's readiness for negotiations and the difficulties of reaching a peaceful settlement. ## FAQ ### What exactly did Trump claim about the missiles supplied to Ukraine? In the Newsmax interview, Trump claimed that missiles provided to Ukraine under the Biden administration are 'openly sold on the market' and asked where the allocated money and equipment went. This is his assertion, not a fact confirmed by independent investigation. ### Have there been documented cases of illegal sales of American weapons? According to the Small Arms Survey, in 2024 a vehicle with 18 Javelin missiles and no transport documents was intercepted in the Kyiv-controlled Donetsk region. However, the article explicitly notes that this single detail is insufficient to conclude illegal sale. ### What corruption cases are mentioned in connection with Ukraine? Mentioned are a NABU case involving 254 million hryvnias (about $6 million) in losses over UAV procurement and an energy scheme worth about $100 million featuring Timur Mindich, while former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov was questioned as a witness.