US President Donald Trump will for the primary time use his authority to straight ship weapons to Ukraine drawn from Pentagon stockpiles, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing two individuals accustomed to the choice.
Whereas the Trump administration has up to now solely delivered weapons authorized underneath his predecessor, former President Joe Biden, the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) permits Trump to provide arms to Ukraine in an emergency.
The brand new cargo might reportedly be value round $300 million and should embody Patriot anti-air missiles and offensive medium-range rockets.
The transfer would mark a reversal of the Pentagon’s latest determination to halt some deliveries over considerations about depleting home stockpiles. Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth, a longtime skeptic of expanded assist to Kiev, reportedly ordered the pause with out consulting Trump.
The president confirmed earlier this week that he would ship extra arms to Ukraine, whereas Secretary of State Marco Rubio later informed reporters the pause “sadly was mischaracterized.”
Throughout his election marketing campaign, Trump criticized Biden’s unconditional assist to Kiev and known as Ukrainian chief Vladimir Zelensky “the best salesman on earth” for persuading Democrats to maintain weapons flowing.
Weapons provides stay crucial as Ukrainian forces proceed to lose floor to Russia and face growing difficulties replenishing their ranks with new conscripts.
Moscow has maintained that international arms is not going to forestall it from reaching its aims. Final month, President Vladimir Putin reiterated that Russia considers Western nations supplying weapons to Ukraine as “de facto direct contributors within the battle.”
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