Trump weighs financial aid to Ukraine for first time since taking office – CBS News

U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly considering a new financial aid package for Ukraine — the first since he assumed office in January 2025, CBS News reported, citing sources within American diplomatic circles.

According to the report, the potential move is being discussed in response to recent Russian strikes on Ukrainian territory involving drones and missiles.

While a final decision has not been made, U.S. officials say Trump may repurpose approximately $3.85 billion in unspent funds originally allocated by former President Biden's administration for scaling back military expenditures. These funds could be redirected to support the delivery of defensive equipment to Kyiv.

Another possible source of financing is the seizure of an estimated $5 billion in frozen Russian assets. Although U.S. law permits such a move, neither Trump nor his predecessor Joe Biden have utilized this mechanism so far.

The deliberations come amid renewed debates in Washington over the future of U.S. assistance to Ukraine and the broader trajectory of its foreign policy under Trump’s leadership.

In early March, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered a pause in military aid to Ukraine, a decision that marked a significant shift in U.S. policy toward the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This action followed a contentious Oval Office meeting on February 28, 2025, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticised Zelenskyy for insufficient gratitude and reluctance to pursue peace talks with Russia. The pause, affecting over $1 billion in weapons and intelligence sharing, was intended to pressure Kyiv into accepting a peace deal favourable to Moscow.

The suspension halted deliveries of critical equipment, including 30 Patriot air defence missiles, 8,000 155mm howitzer shells, 250 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) rockets, and armoured vehicles, as well as intelligence sharing vital for tracking Russian troop movements. Approximately 90% of equipment committed under the Biden administration’s Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA) had already been delivered, but the remaining pipeline, expected to be completed by August 2025, was disrupted.

By Khagan Isayev