Trump tells CBS the West has “gotten nothing” from arming Ukraine

US President Donald Trump said in an interview with CBS News that the West has so far achieved nothing by supplying weapons to Ukraine. The interviewer objected that the US has at least helped Ukraine preserve its independence. Trump replied: "You haven't gotten that yet. You haven't gotten anything yet."

He also said: "They had the best weapons on earth, and we got nothing for it." Trump expressed confidence that peace in Ukraine will come, and very soon, and that after a settlement "Ukraine will be a little different shape." He did not explain what exactly he meant or what timeframe he had in mind.

When the interviewer remarked that it is Europe that is arming Kyiv, Trump objected: "No, we are." According to him, the US hands weapons over to Europe, sells them at full cost, and the Europeans pay for them. He did not deny that Ukraine receives weapons mainly thanks to the US.

In 2025, the US and the EU agreed on a scheme under which weapons for Ukraine are bought from the Americans at the expense of European NATO allies. Trump later said the deliveries go through a purchasing programme via NATO and are paid for in full.