WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has endorsed a plan to have European allies buy billions of dollars worth of U.S. military equipment that can be transferred to Ukraine as Kyiv looks for way to better defend itself against intensified Russian attacks.

President Trump is hosting NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Monday as the U.S. agrees to sell new and more weapons to Europe and Ukraine.

President Donald Trump is set to meet with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Monday as the United States warms up to the idea of providing Ukraine with missiles in its war with Russia. Trump teased a “major announcement” on Monday regarding Russia,

Trump agrees to sell billions in US arms to NATO countries including Germany, Finland and Denmark and others for quick distribution to Ukraine, following his ultimatum to Putin on peace talks.

Trump on Monday said the United States would ship "billions of dollars' worth" of military equipment to NATO members, paid for by the alliance, to be handed over to Ukrainian forces battling grinding Russian advances. Trump had earlier this month suggested NATO would "100 percent" pay for U.S. weapons, which would be sent to Ukraine.

Sitting in the Oval Office with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, and apparently fed up with being slow-walked by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump threatened the Kremlin with tough tariffs if it doesn't make a deal to end the war within 50 days. But perhaps more important was Trump's shift on weapons.

According to sources, Trump’s shift in stance on supplying weapons to Ukraine resulted from months of efforts by EU and NATO leaders. Notably, Finnish President Alexander Stubb bonded with Trump during a golf tournament in Florida,

President Trump now wants to give more weapons to Ukraine and is threatening increased sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin doesn't agree to end the war in 50 days. The president explained why in a phone call with our partners at BBC News.