US Approves Major Arms Sales to Egypt, Ukraine

The US State Department has approved major arms deals this week, including a $4.67 billion package for Egypt featuring NASAMS air defense systems and a $322 million sale of HAWK missile systems and Bradley fighting vehicle equipment to Ukraine. The Egypt deal highlights Washington's continued security partnership with Cairo, even amid Egypt's growing ties with China. The arms sale to Ukraine is intended to bolster its defense against Russian attacks and comes after a recent pause in US weapons shipments. Congressional approval is still required for both transactions. Meanwhile, political debate continues in Washington over sustained support for Ukraine, where President Zelenskyy faces domestic unrest over anti-corruption reforms. Separately, Russia and Ukraine have agreed to another prisoner exchange, though no progress has been made toward a cease-fire.