Trump invokes presidential authority to send new weapons to Ukraine

President Donald Trump has decided to send a new military aid package to Ukraine, marking the first time since returning to office that he will use a key executive authority to provide direct assistance to Kyiv, two sources familiar with the matter told reporters on July 10.

According to the sources, the Trump administration will utilise the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) to send weapons from existing U.S. military stockpiles, a mechanism frequently used by former President Joe Biden. One of the sources estimated the package could be worth around $300 million, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Trump had signalled this shift in policy during remarks on July 8, stating that the U.S. would deliver additional military assistance to help Ukraine resist “intensifying Russian advances.”

The package is expected to include a mix of defensive and offensive weaponry, with Patriot missile systems and medium-range rockets under consideration. However, a final decision on the exact contents was pending a meeting scheduled for July 10, the sources said.

Until now, the Trump administration had only allowed the delivery of weapons previously approved under Biden, who had been a staunch supporter of Ukraine. The decision to employ the PDA suggests a new level of engagement with Kyiv from the current administration.

The Presidential Drawdown Authority allows the president to quickly provide emergency military aid to foreign allies by transferring weapons directly from U.S. inventories. The U.S. still has $3.86 billion in PDA funds authorised for Ukraine.

The Pentagon and White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

While Trump has at times criticised U.S. military spending on Ukraine and expressed sympathetic views toward Russia, he has also voiced support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and delivered strong criticism of the Kremlin. His administration’s Ukraine policy has drawn scrutiny for its shifting tone.

Ukraine's current military priorities reportedly include Patriot missile interceptors and GMLRS mobile rocket artillery, both of which may be included in the new aid package. Thanks to pre-positioned U.S. stockpiles in Europe, delivery to the front lines could occur within days.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration paused shipments of certain critical arms previously approved by Biden, but some of those deliveries have since resumed.

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in early 2022, Congress has authorised nearly $175 billion in aid and military support for Ukraine and allied nations. The most recent drawdown under the PDA was a $500 million package authorised by Biden on January 9.

By Vugar Khalilov