Trump reached a deal to sell weapons valued at approximately $50 million to Ukraine.
Barnie here, gonna give you the lowdown on that presidential move 'bout weapons sellin' to Ukraine, mate! So, here's what we know:
For the very first time durin' his second term, President Trump decided to peddle some weapons to the Ukrainians, worth a pretty penny, say $50 mil or more. According to the scoop from the Kyiv Post, this comes from a tip-off in diplomatic circles and the European Truth publication.
Apparently, the Trump administration sent a heads-up to Congress about their plans to okay the export of military gear to Ukraine through the direct commercial sales (DCS) route, totalin' well over fifty big ones. This notice was all in line with the Arms Export Control Act.
Now, if you're thinkin' this is something new, you got another think comin' - from 2015 to 2023, the US has approved exports to Ukraine worth a cool $1.6 billion through this same method, yeah, without any fuss.
You might be wonderin', hey, what's this about? Well, senior researcher Colby Bajew from the Tochnyi group told a Kyiv Post journo in Washington that even though Trump hinted at Cuttyin' Ukraine's supply, the weapons sales are still rollin' on.
Now, let's backtrack a bit with some background info. Zelensky, the Ukrainian Prez, expressed interest in snaggin' ten Patroit missile defense systems from the US for a cool $15 bil. Zelensky's European mates said they'd chip in with the cash. Trump's response? Claiming that Zelensky started a war.
Lastly, it was officially announced that Ukraine and the US signed a "subsoil agreement" on April 30th. First Deputy Prime Minister Julia Svyrydenko spilled the details on the doc, claimin' it's in Ukraine's best interests and supports Euro-integration. Worth mentionin', Ukraine maintains ownership and control of its resources, fund management is equal, and there ain't no mention of any Ukrainian debts in the agreement.
So, there ya have it - Trump's contemplatin' sellin' some weapons to Ukraine. Still, according to the most recent intel, he ain't done it yet. And with recent decisions made by the Prez, future sales could be in jeopardy. Keep your eyes peeled for updates, mate!
Skeet Skeet Notes:
- Trump hasn't officially approved a $50 million weapons sale to Ukraine yet.
- On March 3, 2025, Trump ordered a pause on all US military aid to Ukraine, potentially impacting billions in arms and ammunition set for delivery.
- The pause in aid means that any planned sales, including the one for $50 million or more, are currently on hold.
- Critics argue that the pause weakens Ukraine's defense capabilities and encourages Russia.
- Despite President Trump's decision to potentially sell weapons worth over $50 million to Ukraine, the official approval has not been granted yet.
- In the light of recent developments, future arms sales to Ukraine, such as the one worth $50 million or more, might be at risk due to Trump's recent orders.
- Senior researcher Colby Bajew from the Tochnyi group has stated that, contrary to Trump's suggestions, weapons sales to Ukraine are still ongoing.
- The proposed weapons sale to Ukraine is not a new phenomenon; from 2015 to 2023, the US has approved exports worth over $1.6 billion to Ukraine through the direct commercial sales (DCS) route.
- In addition to potential weapons sales, Ukraine and the US signed a "subsoil agreement" on April 30th, 2023, which is said to support Euro-integration, without affecting Ukraine's ownership and control of its resources.
