Will the US resume supplying weapons to Ukraine?
US arms shipments to Ukraine, which had been temporarily suspended, are expected to resume this weekend.
According to Reuters, four sources close to the matter said that U.S. arms shipments to Ukraine have been temporarily halted in recent days, but will resume later this week as the Trump administration debates its policy toward Kyiv.
Two of the four sources said that shipments had resumed after the White House reversed its initial assessment of halting all aid to Ukraine.
A U.S. official said there are differing positions within the administration regarding the extent to which the U.S. should continue to support Kyiv's efforts to sustain the war with weapons from U.S. stockpiles.
The White House did not immediately respond to Reuters' request for comment.
Blocking the flow of American weapons would hinder the combat capabilities of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and put the country at a greater disadvantage in peace negotiations.
According to Reuters, it is unclear whether the Trump administration will officially acknowledge the temporary suspension and subsequent resumption of aid.
In the final months of his term, the administration of former President Joe Biden approved an average of over $1 billion worth of U.S. weapons taken from U.S. stockpiles for Ukraine. That's even more if you include new contracts for future production.
The provision of weapons to Ukraine from the United States was facilitated in part through the use of the President's Power of Deployment, which allows the President to quickly transfer weapons and equipment from U.S. stockpiles abroad without congressional approval.
Since Donald Trump took office, no shipments have been announced, but shipments ordered by Joe Biden are believed to continue moving, and will continue for months due to the backlog.
