President Trump is considering authorizing new funding for Ukraine for the first time since taking over in January, several diplomatic sources told CBS News.
Sources indicated that the purpose of the new funding may be to send a message to Russia, which has increased Ukraine with drone and missile attacks in recent times. Russia described as Ukraine this week Largest drone attack Since its full-scale invasion began in February 2022-in Navinam Aerial wave Attack It has pummailed Kyiv and other cities.
Mr. Trump indicated Early this week That he planned to send more defensive weapons to Ukraine. A few days ago, his administration stopped the shipment of some weapons – a trick a white house officer Cast as a part Extensive global review of weapon transfer.
The source of potential new funding for Ukraine is not clear. But US officials told CBS News that Mr. Trump has $ 3.85 billion to the remaining Biden-President’s Dropdown Authority sitting on his fingers, which can be used to send US military equipment to Ukraine. Former officials also told CBS News, President Has the right to seize Foreign Russians direct $ 5 billion and Ukraine in Russian assets, although neither he, nor former President who has used that power.
CBS News has reached the White House for comments.
The US has sent tens of billions of billions of dollars in military aid in Ukraine since the early 2022. Mr. Trump has previously been important for that expense, and has pressured Ukraine and Russia to work towards a peace agreement – to get out in both countries from time to time.
In recent times, Russia has drawn the President’s IRE. He told reporters last week that he was “very disappointed”. call out With Russian President Vladimir Putin, and he later suggested that Russia’s attacks on Ukraine could motivate him to send more weapons to Ukraine.
Mr. Trump told reporters during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, “Putin is not treating humans properly. He is killing many people.” “So we are sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I have approved it.”
At other points, Mr. Trump has attacked Ukrainian President Volodimier Zelancesi. 1 February Oval office meeting Ukrainian got into an oral argument with the leader, causing one to become one Short stagnation On American aid, and Mr. Trump has Accused Zelanski To prolong the war.
Trump says Ukraine “NATO is paying” for assistance
Meanwhile, Mr. Trump has inspired European countries to take a large part of Ukraine’s support.
NATO on Friday told CBS News that he was working with the member states, which took the US-made ammunition and aerial rescue in Ukraine immediately, but to do any new mechanisms to do so, refused to explain. A day earlier, Mr. Trump spoke to discussing European partners who bought American-made equipment, according to diplomatic sources with NATO general secretary Mark Rute.
The US law requires the approval of countries before transferring any American-made equipment to a third party such as Ukraine. Under both Mr. Trump and Biden, the federal government has approved the transfer by other countries to Ukraine.
In an interview with NBC News On Thursday, Mr. Trump suggested that NATO would buy weapons from the US to transfer to Ukraine. This will mark a dramatic change in policy, in the past, NATO is not directly non-member of Ukraine as Ukraine as an institution. Instead, individual members of the coalition have chosen to help Ukraine on their own.
“We are sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” Mr. Trump told NBC News’ Christon Velkar.
When asked about NATO’s plan during a press availability in Malaysia on Friday, State Secretary Marco Rubio refused to expand any new mechanism and referred to the plans of European countries to buy weapons.
Rubio said, “At the end of the day, some systems of Ukraine require which Europe is required.
