The Trump administration has reportedly approved its first U.S. weapons package for Ukraine under a new financial agreement with allies.
Using weapons from U.S. stocks paid for by NATO countries, a mechanism known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), Ukraine could soon receive shipments of such lethal aid.
Reuters first reported the approval.
Two sources familiar with the situation told the outlet that Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby has approved up to two $500 million shipments using PURL, which would include air defense systems needed for Kyiv to counter Russia’s increased drone and missile attacks.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
President Trump first said in July that a deal was struck with NATO to send weapons to Ukraine, with the Western military alliance bearing most of the cost — a deal struck in June at the NATO summit in The Hague.
“We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100 percent,” he told NBC News at the time. “So, what we’re doing is, the weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and NATO is paying for those weapons.”
That announcement came after the Pentagon had briefly paused shipments of some defensive weapons to Ukraine, including air defense missiles and munitions, citing concerns of U.S. stockpiles being depleted.
But as Trump has intensified his criticism of Russia’s resistance to brokering a potential ceasefire and ongoing attacks in its war in Ukraine, the commander in chief has changed his tune on supplying Kyiv with weapons.
Up until now, the Trump administration has only sold weapons to Ukraine or shipped tranches already authorized by former President Biden.
Source: The Hill