The Netherlands announced on Monday that it would become the first country to participate in a new program designed for European countries to purchase U.S. weapons for Ukraine.

The United States will provide military aid packages valued at roughly $500 million for European countries to purchase on Ukraine’s behalf. President Donald Trump first announced this plan during his meeting with North Atlantic Treaty Organization Secretary-General Mark Rutte on July 14.

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“Ukraine needs more air defense and ammunition now,” Dutch defense minister Ruben Brekelmans said on social media. “As the first NATO Ally, the Netherlands will deliver a €500 million package of US weapon systems (incl. Patriot parts and missiles). This helps Ukraine to defend itself and the rest of Europe against Russian aggression.”

These aid packages will largely include defense equipment, ammunition, and other essential supplies, according to a statement from the Dutch Defense Ministry.

The U.S. and NATO have worked over recent weeks to establish a new way to arm Ukraine in which the European countries within the alliance foot the bill for the weapons, instead of the U.S. This new aid package of U.S. equipment for Ukraine was coordinated under NATO’s new Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List initiative.

Through this method, the Ukrainians will identify their greatest operational priorities, and European allies and Canada will then pay for those aid packages.

The Dutch Defense Ministry noted that this is not meant to replace other methods Ukraine allies are using to get them weapons, rather it’s meant as an additional tool.

The Trump administration, which has briefly halted aid to Ukraine on multiple occasions, has become decisively more supportive of the embattled country in recent weeks as Russian President Vladimir Putin has refused to make serious efforts to end the war in Ukraine as the U.S. desires.

At the same time, Trump wants Europe to foot a larger percentage of the costs of aiding Ukraine than the U.S. and, more broadly, for them to take a greater share of the burden regarding their own national security.

“Great to see the Netherlands taking the lead and funding the first package of U.S. military equipment for Ukraine under NATO’s Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List initiative,” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said. “I thank Allies for getting Ukraine the equipment it urgently needs to defend against Russian aggression. I expect further significant announcements from other allies soon.”

STEVE WITKOFF HEADING TO RUSSIA TO MAKE CEASEFIRE DEAL BEFORE TRUMP DEADLINE

Trump has given Putin 10 days to make a ceasefire deal or face harsh sanctions and tariffs, which expires at the end of this week. Trump’s envoy tasked with ending the conflict, Steve Witkoff, is expected to travel to Moscow later this week for one last attempt at a deal before the expiration of Trump’s timeframe.

During the first months of his presidency, Trump and his administration took a much more conciliatory tone toward Russia, but it has not yet convinced Putin to end the war.