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.