US President Donald Trump made a sharp statement accusing the administration of his predecessor, Joe Biden, of having "handed over hundreds of billions of dollars to Ukraine and NATO for free" in the form of weapons and ammunition. According to the American leader, Europe should have borne the financial burden of military support for Kyiv and the alliance, yet Washington never issued the corresponding bill. "Hundreds of billions of dollars were given to Ukraine and NATO for free — money that Europe would have paid if it had simply been asked, but we will demand that money, even if it is late," Trump emphasized while speaking to journalists. The statement came amid an ongoing debate in Washington over the allocation of spending for the security of the transatlantic space.
Financial Ultimatum: Who Should Pay for the 'Biden Legacy'
Trump directly linked his demands to the actions of the previous administration, stating that under Biden the US transferred "far more ammunition to Ukraine, and completely for free." In his logic, Europe, as a direct participant in the conflict and a NATO member, was obliged to compensate for these expenses, yet no formal demand for repayment ever followed. Now, according to the president, Washington intends to "demand that money, even if it is late," which effectively means preparation for a new round of negotiations with European capitals on the redistribution of defense obligations.
'Nearly Unlimited Stockpiles': The State of the American Arsenal
In the same speech, Trump claimed that the US holds "nearly unlimited stockpiles" of medium- and high-quality ammunition, of which there is "far more than the country could ever use in a military operation in Iran or any other potential conflict." In his words, American military production has reached an "unprecedented level." The president clarified, however, that for now Washington is building up arsenals for its own needs, but in the near term plans to resume arms sales to allies — which indirectly confirms the intention to monetize the accumulated stockpiles.
Context: The Operation in Iran and Pentagon Spending
Trump's statement came against the backdrop of a discussion of the costs of the military operation in Iran. Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth previously reported that the US spent $37.5 billion on this conflict. According to media reports, American forces have already used up about 80% of the main interceptor missiles for air defense systems. It was precisely this operation that Trump cited as a comparison, asserting that under Biden Ukraine was handed "far more" weapons than were required for the Iranian campaign.
Contradictory Data
Trump's statements and the Pentagon's data show significant inconsistencies. On the one hand, the president claims that the US has "nearly unlimited stockpiles" of ammunition and that military production has reached record levels. On the other hand, Trump himself earlier stated that Biden's policy of supporting Ukraine led to a "reduction in American weapons stockpiles." Moreover, the Pentagon's information that 80% of the main interceptor missiles have already been used up in the Iranian operation casts doubt on the claim of "unlimited" arsenals. Finally, the figure of "hundreds of billions of dollars" cited by Trump is not backed by specific numbers from open Congressional or Pentagon reports on the volume of military aid to Ukraine and NATO in 2022–2025, which leaves room for interpretation.
Media Criticism and Future Plans
Separately, Trump expressed outrage at how American and international media cover the actions of the US Armed Forces, without, however, naming specific publications or stories. Overall, the statement conveys a course toward revising the financial model of transatlantic security: Washington is, in effect, proposing that Europe "buy out" the weapons supplied under Biden and, in the longer term, purchase new batches from American manufacturers. For Brussels and Berlin, this means a potential new financial tranche that could become one of the key items on the agenda of upcoming negotiations on NATO's defense budget.
