Trump Approves New Ukraine Aid Amid Internal Discord

President Donald Trump has reversed a Pentagon-imposed pause and will, for the first time in his current term, use the Presidential Drawdown Authority to send up to $300 million in additional weaponry to Ukraine. The new package will include Patriot missile interceptors and medium-range rockets, aimed at helping Ukraine respond to intensified Russian assaults. The initial halt in weapons shipments, reportedly ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth without Trump's direct approval, has exposed notable coordination problems among the White House, Pentagon, and State Department. Trump has publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin and reaffirmed U.S. support for Ukraine, despite his previous skepticism and inconsistent policy signals. These policy fluctuations have raised concerns among both U.S. allies and adversaries about the reliability of American support. Meanwhile, Russia maintains that Western arms deliveries will not change its objectives, as U.S. officials stress the urgency of timely aid for Ukraine.