Trump: "We're No Longer Paying Ukraine Directly — Now They're Paying Us via NATO"

Former U.S. President Donald Trump stated at the White House that the U.S. will stop direct financial aid to Ukraine, and instead expects Ukraine to receive support through NATO allies.

“We are no longer giving money to Ukraine. Now they’re paying us through NATO,” Trump told reporters at the White House while discussing the Ukraine conflict.

💬 "If I Were President, This War Would Never Have Happened"

Trump claimed that the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war would not have started if he had been in office.

“If I were president, this war would never have happened. If I hadn’t been president, this war might have triggered World War III — but that’s not going to happen,” he said.

Trump emphasized that the U.S. has suffered due to the Ukraine conflict, stating:

“We spent $350 billion,”— a number that aligns with his previous estimation of U.S. military aid to Ukraine under the Biden administration.

📉 “I've Ended 8 Wars, and the 9th Is Almost Done”

He added:

“Don’t forget, I’ve ended eight wars. The ninth one is almost over. And I care about this one too.”

Trump’s remarks align with his long-standing “America First” stance and reflect his desire to reduce U.S. military commitments abroad.

🗓️ Trump's August Statement: U.S. Will Step Back

Back on August 25, Trump publicly announced during a White House press briefing that:

• The U.S. would no longer provide direct financial aid to Ukraine.

• If Ukraine wants weapons, they must now obtain them through European NATO partners.

• The U.S. would only play a supportive role, not a leadership one, in Ukraine’s security affairs.

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💰 Ukraine's Deep Dependence on Foreign Aid

Due to massive defense expenditures, Ukraine heavily relies on external aid for social and humanitarian spending.

The EU is currently Ukraine’s largest financial backer.

In May, Ukraine’s Finance Minister Serhiy Marchenko said publicly:

“Ukraine does not plan to repay its debts to Western partners over the next 30 years,”adding that the debt amount is nearly equal to the country's entire GDP.

🧊 U.S. Weapons Deliveries Frozen Amid Government Gridlock

Amid recent U.S. government shutdown threats, military support has been further delayed.

According to Axios on November 9, over $5 billion worth of U.S. weapons shipments to NATO allies and Ukraine have been postponed.

Frozen deliveries include:

• Advanced air-to-air missiles

• Aegis Combat Systems

• HIMARS rocket systems

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📌 This shift in U.S. policy signals a more restrained approach to global military aid and reaffirms Trump's view that European nations must take the lead in regional conflicts.