Trump to use presidential authority to send weapons to Ukraine
11/7/2025 6:32
President Donald Trump
for the first time since returning to office will send weapons
to Kyiv under a presidential power frequently used by his
predecessor, two sources familiar with the decision said on
Thursday, a move suggesting new interest by the president in
defending Ukraine.
More than three years after Russia's invasion of its
neighbor, Trump's team will identify arms from U.S. stockpiles
to send to Ukraine under the Presidential Drawdown Authority,
the sources said, with one saying they could be worth around
$300 million.
Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. would send more weapons to
Ukraine to help the country defend itself against intensifying
Russian advances.
The package could include defensive Patriot missiles and
offensive medium-range rockets, but a decision on the exact
equipment has not been made, the sources said. One of the people
said this would happen at a meeting on Thursday.
So far, the Trump administration has only sent weapons
authorized by former President Joe Biden, who was a staunch
supporter of Kyiv. Presidential Drawdown Authority allows the
president to draw from weapons stocks to help allies in an
emergency.
The Pentagon and the White House did not immediately respond
to a request for comment.
The Republican president's stance on defending Ukraine has
been inconsistent. At times he has criticized U.S. spending and
spoken favorably of Russia but also sometimes has voiced support
for Kyiv and disparaged the Kremlin.
The U.S. has $3.86 billion worth of Presidential Drawdown
Authority for Ukraine remaining. The last drawdown was a $500
million award by Biden on January 9.
Ukraine's top priorities are Patriot missile interceptors
and GMLRS mobile rocket artillery which may be included in the
package. The weapons could be on the front lines within days
because stocks are positioned in Europe.
The Trump administration this month halted shipments of some
critical weapons that were approved by Biden but some of those
shipments have resumed.
Congress has approved nearly $175 billion of aid and
military assistance for Ukraine and allied nations in the nearly
3-1/2 years since Russia's full-scale invasion.
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