The Trump administration on Tuesday approved two new potential military sales to Ukraine worth more than $200 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced.
The decision came following a “productive” phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, who have been discussing an end to Russia’s ongoing war.
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The new sale packages, which are subject to congressional approval, include a $104 million deal for the maintenance and repair of Ukraine’s M777 Howitzers, as well as a separate $99.5 million package for logistics and transportation services.
According to the DSCA, the sales are intended to improve Ukraine’s ability to defend itself from Russia’s invasion.
Military specialist expressed skepticism about the new aid’s impact
“In my view such systems as these are useful/beneficial – but even when limited to providing defensive capabilities, there are far more important systems, like a significant number of Patriots, that have the potential to make a strategic difference on the battlefield rather than, on the margins,” said Col. (Ret.) Richard Williams, a veteran of the US military and NATO leadership, in an interview with the Kyiv Post on Tuesday afternoon.
Williams added that the new systems would have a “marginal impact,” while Patriot air defense capabilities could save “hundreds or thousands of lives.”
The same approvals as the US also came as European nations have announced they would buy $1 billion in American weapons for Ukraine under a new NATO scheme.
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The pledge came Tuesday morning from the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark and is part of the new Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) mechanism, which was launched by President Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last month.
Washington welcomed the move
“These deliveries total over 1 billion of life saving top of the line American equipment that, as noted by [US] Ambassador [to NATO Matthew] Whitaker, will allow Ukraine to, ‘protect critical infrastructure and civilian lives,’ while also staying in the fight until a lasting ceasefire happens,” State Department’s spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters.
“These commitments deliver on President Trump’s initiative to facilitate billions of dollars in investment to the United States defense industry and create American jobs while ensuring Europe and ultimately defend itself long term,” she concluded.
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