The Trump administration plans to push European allies to buy more US weapons for Ukraine ahead of potential talks with Russia.
Reuters quoted two sources familiar with the plan as saying that if implemented, such a plan would help reassure Ukrainian leaders amid concerns that US President Donald Trump could block military aid and improve Kyiv's negotiating position with Moscow.
US soldiers inspect M777 howitzers to be sent to Ukraine
Previously, European countries bought weapons from the US and transferred them to Ukraine under former President Joe Biden.
U.S. officials, including Ukraine envoy Keith Kellogg, will discuss the potential sale with European allies at the Munich Security Conference this week, according to two people familiar with the matter. It is one of several ideas the Trump team is discussing to continue sending U.S. weapons to Ukraine without significantly increasing the budget.
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In an interview with Reuters on February 10, Mr. Kellogg declined to confirm the plan, but said: "The United States always likes to sell domestically produced weapons because it helps strengthen the domestic economy." Mr. Kellogg added that the weapons shipments approved by former President Biden are in the process of being shipped to Ukraine.
In recent times, many US officials have stated that Mr. Trump's team wants to recover the billions of dollars that the US has provided to Ukraine, while asking Europe to do more to support Kyiv. "The basic principle is that Europe must take responsibility for this conflict in the future," US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said on February 9.
It is unclear whether European countries will buy US weapons to aid Ukraine through contracts with defense companies or directly pay for weapons drawn from US stockpiles. According to Reuters, some commercial contracts could take years to complete.
The Trump administration has been debating for weeks whether and how to continue providing weapons to Ukraine. Trump has said he would cut off all aid to Ukraine. But some advisers have advised Trump that Washington should maintain military support for Kyiv, especially as peace talks could be delayed until later this year.
Regarding the negotiations, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on February 10 that US officials will visit Ukraine for the first time this week, as diplomatic efforts to end the Russia-Ukraine war are intensifying. President Zelensky also confirmed that he plans to meet with US Vice President JD Vance at the Munich conference (taking place from February 14-16).
Russia warns on relations with the US
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov speaks to the press in Moscow on February 10.
In another development, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said on February 10 that tensions between Washington and Moscow were at a serious level. The Russian official said that relations between Moscow and Washington were "on the brink of collapse," and stressed that Ukraine should abandon its efforts to join NATO and withdraw its troops from areas controlled by Russian forces.
According to NBC News, Mr. Ryabkov said that Russia "does not see any change in the path that the United States has been pursuing recently on the Ukraine issue." Deputy Minister Ryabkov affirmed that Mr. Trump's team needs to understand and acknowledge the root causes of the crisis in Ukraine in order for the parties to reach an agreement.
Mr. Trump said he had a phone call with Mr. Putin, how did the Kremlin react?
Ryabkov's remarks came after US President Donald Trump revealed on February 9 that he had spoken to Russian President Vladimir Putin and discussed the conflict in Ukraine. This is the first time the leaders of the two countries have spoken by phone since the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out in 2022. Ryabkov said President Trump's team has shown interest in resuming dialogue with Russia, but the two sides have yet to reach an agreement on high-level contacts.
Russia has neither confirmed nor denied that Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin had a phone call. The US has not yet commented on the statements of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Ryabkov.
Source: https://thanhnien.vn/ong-trump-co-the-thuc-giuc-chau-au-mua-vu-khi-my-cho-ukraine-moscow-canh-bao-185250211113326418.htm
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