Washington: The administration of US President Donald Trump has given the green light for direct commercial sales of military products to Ukraine, valued at $50 million or more. This decision marks a significant move as it is the Trump administration’s first such approval since the President took office in January, as reported by The Kyiv Post, which cited unnamed diplomatic sources.
According to Namibia Press Agency, the approval includes both goods and services related to defense. Analysts, however, warn that without additional aid packages, the supply of US arms to Ukraine could run out within six months. They emphasize that without advanced weaponry, such as Patriot missiles and ATACMS, Ukraine may struggle to defend its cities and conduct offensive operations against Russia.
The suspension of US military aid to Ukraine began in early March, following tensions during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s meeting with President Trump at the White House. On March 11, a meeting occurred between US and Ukrainian delegations in Saudi Arabia, where Zelenskyy’s office released a joint statement. The statement indicated that Ukraine was prepared to accept a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia, with the potential for extension by mutual agreement. The document also noted that the US would immediately resume military aid to Ukraine and end the pause in intelligence sharing.
Russia has consistently argued that Western arms supplies to Ukraine exacerbate the military conflict and implicate NATO countries as participants in the crisis. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has issued a warning that any cargo containing weapons intended for Ukraine will be considered a legitimate target by the Russian military.