WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is accelerating a controversial policy of selling weapons to NATO allies, who then transfer those arms to Ukraine’s front lines, intensifying the already volatile conflict and raising fresh questions about American accountability and the risks of prolonging Russo-Ukraine war.
Former President Donald Trump recently confirmed that the United States is offloading military equipment to allied countries including Poland and the Baltic states, which then supply these weapons directly to Ukrainian forces battling the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine. “They buy the weapons from us, and they send them over to Ukraine,” Trump said in recent interviews, exposing a covert supply chain designed to expand support for Kyiv while allowing Washington plausible deniability.
This arrangement, corroborated by multiple sources including the Associated Press, PBS, Reuters and Axios, involves the sale of a wide range of weapons, from advanced drones to anti-tank missiles, that bolster Ukraine’s offensive capabilities against Russia. Yet, this practice skirts direct congressional oversight and complicates international arms transfer regulations, exposing glaring legal and ethical blind spots in US foreign policy.
The Pentagon and State Department have avoided direct confirmation but emphasize the importance of aiding Ukraine’s self-defense against Russian aggression. However, critics argue the policy skirts congressional oversight and international arms control laws, creating dangerous legal and ethical loopholes.
According to The Guardian, NATO allies have become key intermediaries, enabling the US to avoid direct shipments that might trigger political backlash or risk escalation with Moscow. Yet this approach fuels what many analysts call a proxy war, with Washington supplying weapons but sidestepping direct responsibility.
Experts warn that this indirect selling undermines transparency and weakens control over where American-made weapons ultimately end up, risking escalation beyond Ukraine’s borders. “This is a dangerous game,” says Jessica Lewis, senior fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “Using allies as intermediaries to funnel weapons clouds accountability, making it difficult to monitor use and consequences, especially in a volatile war zone.”
The Kremlin has condemned the US strategy as a reckless proxy war that prolongs bloodshed. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov criticized the US for arming Kyiv through third parties and warned that such policies exacerbate instability not just in Ukraine but across the wider European theater. “This is a business, the order of addition does not change the sum. Ukraine is still being pumped with weapons,”according to Tasnim News.
The Trump administration defends the policy as necessary to maintain steady military support for Ukraine while managing geopolitical risk. Officials highlight that selling weapons to NATO allies expedites deliveries and reduces dependency on direct US shipments, which face production and funding constraints.
Congressional voices on both sides have expressed concern. Senator Rand Paul criticized the arms sales as “fueling endless war” without accountability, urging oversight to prevent unchecked escalation. Meanwhile, hawkish lawmakers advocate even greater military aid to ensure Ukraine can withstand Russian stricks.
As the Russian Special Military Operation in Ukraine drags into its third year, the Trump administration’s arms sale policy exposes the fine line Washington walks, backing Kyiv militarily while avoiding direct entanglement and responsibility for the conflict’s deadly prolongation.
