President Donald Trump plans to use the authority granted to him under a foreign assistance law to send more defensive weapons to aid Ukraine in its war with Russia, Reuters reported, citing two sources familiar with the decision.
The Context
The report came after Trump sharply criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin earlier this week and said the U.S. would send more military aid to Ukraine.
“We have to,” Trump told reporters. “They have to be able to defend themselves.”
What To Know
One source told the outlet that the military aid Trump plans to send to Ukraine could be worth as much as $300 million.
The president clarified in a phone interview with NBC News later Thursday that the U.S. would sell those weapons to NATO allies, who would then transfer them to Ukraine, including the Patriot missiles system.
“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent,” Trump told the outlet, adding that he would have a “major statement to make on Russia” early next week.
Trump will send the aid using the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), according to Reuters. That power is granted to the executive under the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and allows the president to respond quickly to foreign crises by reallocating U.S. military supplies.
Jacquelyn Martin/AP
Former President Joe Biden utilized PDA twice during his term and the use of the power enables aid to reach its recipients within days—or sometimes hours—after approval, making it one of the government’s most responsive tools in emergency foreign policy scenarios.
Trump’s announcement on Tuesday that “we have to” send more aid to Ukraine was a reversal of the Pentagon‘s statement last week that it was turning the tap off on some military assistance to Ukraine.
The announcement from the Department of Defense caught the president “flat-footed” and he privately expressed frustration that the Pentagon didn’t coordinate more with the White House about it, the Associated Press reported.
Trump was pressed by reporters on Tuesday about who at the Pentagon ordered the pause in aid, to which he responded: “I don’t know. You tell me.”
He was asked again about it on Wednesday. “What does it say that such a big decision could be made inside your government without you knowing?” a reporter asked the president at a White House news conference following a lunch Trump had with the leaders of African countries.
“I would know,” Trump replied. “If a decision was made, I will know. I’ll be the first to know. In fact, most likely, I’ll give the order, but I haven’t done that yet.”
What People Are Saying
Republican Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky praised Trump earlier this week for resuming the weapons shipments but called for the president to be more resolute in backing Ukraine: “This time, the President will need to reject calls from the isolationists and restrainers within his Administration to limit these deliveries to defensive weapons. And he should disregard those at DoD who invoke munitions shortages to block aid while refusing to invest seriously in expanding munitions production.”
Trump lashed out at Putin during Tuesday’s Cabinet meeting, telling reporters: “We get a lot of bulls*** thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth. He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
What Happens Next
Reuters reported that a decision on the exact equipment the U.S. will send Ukraine has not been made and that it would be finalized at a meeting on Thursday. But sources told the outlet the package could include Patriot missiles and offensive medium-range rockets.
Update 7/10/25, 9:54 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional information and context.
