**US President Trump to Send Weapons to Ukraine for First Time Using Presidential Authority**
For the first time since taking office, US President Donald Trump will authorize sending weapons to Kyiv using the Presidential Drawdown Authority. This move marks a potential shift in his administration’s approach to defending Ukraine against Russia.
According to sources familiar with the decision, Trump’s team will identify arms from US stockpiles to be sent to Ukraine. The value of this aid package is expected to be around $300 million. President Trump had previously stated that the US would send more weapons to Ukraine to help defend against intensifying Russian advances.
The package is likely to include defensive Patriot missiles and offensive medium-range rockets. A decision on the exact equipment will be made during a meeting on Thursday. The use of the Presidential Drawdown Authority allows the president to directly transfer weapons from US military stocks in response to an emergency.
**A New Approach?**
Until now, the Trump administration’s military aid to Ukraine had only consisted of weapons authorized by former President Joe Biden. This move marks a potential shift in Trump’s stance on supporting Ukraine, which has been characterized by inconsistency. While he has at times criticized US spending and expressed favorable views of Russia, he has also voiced support for Kyiv and disparaged the Kremlin.
**Ukraine’s Priorities**
Ukraine’s most pressing priorities include Patriot missile interceptors and GMLRS mobile rocket artillery, both of which may be part of the new package. Given that US stocks are positioned in Europe, these weapons could potentially reach the front lines within days of authorization.
**Background on Aid Packages**
The US currently retains $3.86 billion in Presidential Drawdown Authority remaining for Ukraine, with the last PDA package being a $500 million award authorized by Biden on January 9. Congress has approved nearly $175 billion in aid and military assistance for Ukraine and its allies in approximately three-and-a-half years since Russia’s full-scale invasion began.
Earlier this month, the Trump administration had temporarily halted shipments of some critical weapons that had been approved by the Biden administration, though some of those deliveries have since resumed.
Read More @ kyivindependent.com
