The US has approved the first arms export permit to Ukraine since Trump’s inauguration.

For the first time since Donald Trump returned to the White House, the US presidential administration has authorized arms exports to Ukraine valued at $50M or more, which includes the supply of defense goods and services. Deliveries must be made through the Direct Commercial Sale (DCS) program – contracts between foreign entities and American companies.

From 2015 to 2023, the US quietly permitted the continuous export of defense products and services to Ukraine amounting to over $1.6B through DCS. Moreover, the sale of American weapons continues, despite all of Trump’s predictions about the absolute cessation of such supplies to Ukraine.

The US State Department has already notified the upper house of Congress, the Senate, regarding the export license’s certification.

At the same time, Trump stated that he would keep it a “big secret” as to whether there would be military aid to Ukraine if a peace agreement with Russia is not reached, as he does not want to undermine the negotiations. However, he hinted that Putin should still be concerned.