President Donald Trump is set to meet with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg this week as discussions intensify around a potential U.S. plan to accelerate arms sales to Ukraine. The meeting, which comes at a critical moment for transatlantic security, is expected to focus on defense spending, alliance cohesion, and future support for Ukraine’s military resistance against Russia.
Sources close to the talks say Trump will press for more burden-sharing among NATO members while exploring the possibility of expanding U.S. arms exports to Ukraine through commercial sales, bypassing traditional aid frameworks. The proposal is viewed by some as a strategic shift that could allow the U.S. to continue supporting Kyiv while reducing direct taxpayer-funded assistance.
Trump, who has long criticized NATO allies for not meeting their defense spending commitments, is likely to use the meeting to reiterate calls for European countries to increase their contributions. His stance on NATO has drawn both concern and support, with critics warning it could weaken Western unity and allies expressing cautious optimism about continued U.S. involvement.
Stoltenberg is expected to emphasize the alliance’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine and the importance of maintaining collective defense in the face of Russian aggression.
The outcome of the meeting could influence the trajectory of Western support for Ukraine and signal how a future Trump administration—if elected—might reshape the U.S. role within NATO and global defense dynamics.
