Trump’s 10% Arms Tariff Could Fund Ukraine Security Guarantees, says US Treasury

The US Treasury Secretary has stated that the 10% tariff imposed by Donald Trump on arms sales to Europe could be used to finance security guarantees for Ukraine, in particular to cover the costs of air defense for peacekeeping initiatives.

The Gaze reports on it, referring to The Telegraph.

“We are selling arms to Europeans, who are then selling them on to the Ukrainians, and President Trump is taking 10 per cent mark-up on the arms,” Bessent told Fox News. “So maybe that 10 per cent will cover the cost of the air cover.”

It is worth recalling that the US and NATO have launched the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative for the rapid and effective delivery of affordable weapons and military systems to Ukraine in order to strengthen its defense capabilities and ensure stable peace.

The mechanism involves compiling a detailed list of priority equipment and ammunition, approved at the highest level, with NATO coordinating delivery through existing structures, including the NSATU program.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced earlier that partners had already provided $1.5 billion for NATO's PURL initiative, through which Ukraine purchases weapons from the US, noting that contributions were made by the Netherlands ($500 million), Denmark, Norway, and Sweden ($500 million combined), and yesterday by Germany ($500 million).

This initiative allows NATO countries and partners to finance the supply of American weapons through voluntary contributions, ensuring stability, predictability, and a rapid response to Ukraine's needs.

As The Gaze previously informed, Ukraine plans to purchase $100 billion worth of American weapons with European funding in exchange for security guarantees from the US after a possible peaceful settlement with Russia.