War business? Expert explains how US plans to supply weapons to Ukraine
US President Donald Trump (GettyImages)
Recent statements by American politicians regarding arms supplies to Ukraine suggest a desire for economic gain rather than unconditional support, according to political scientist and international affairs expert Maksym Nesvitailov.
"There is very little concrete information so far. Without a doubt, these are mostly positive developments for us," he noted.
At the same time, the expert emphasized that most of the statements appear vague and inconsistent. He said that currently, only a few comments have been made, and Trump's remarks are not entirely clear. In his view, only US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has expressed a more defined position.
According to Nesvitailov, the core logic voiced by Rubio is that European partners should transfer their own weapons to Ukraine — specifically Patriot systems — and then purchase new equipment from the United States in return.
He noted that this approach would be significantly faster, since buying directly from the US would involve contracting and production timelines.
The expert also pointed out that such an approach resembles a business model.
He added that one thing for which Trump can truly be credited is turning it into a business, essentially making money for the United States.
According to the expert, this allows the US to boost its own defense industry while simultaneously positioning itself as an ally to Ukraine.
Nesvitailov acknowledged that arms deliveries are critically important for Ukraine, but he does not see this as a shift in Donald Trump's overall stance.
He stated that it shouldn't be called a turnaround, as Trump never really held strong illusions about Vladimir Putin in the first place.
In his view, Trump sees the Russian president as a pragmatist who can be stopped through financial or political agreements. However, the expert believes Trump does not fully grasp Putin's deeper motives or the nature of the war he is waging against Ukraine.
"He simply doesn't understand that Putin wants to destroy Ukraine and everything Ukrainian," he concluded.
Military aid to Ukraine
It was recently reported that the United States had suspended deliveries of air defense missiles and other ammunition to Ukraine. The US State Department later confirmed that Kyiv had received advance notice of the halt in assistance.
Trump, however, stated that the United States would continue supplying defensive weapons to Ukraine, as the country is still under heavy fire. In particular, the Pentagon released a statement confirming that the United States will send Ukraine additional weapons as part of ongoing military aid.
