Trump Administration Finally Approves First Direct Arms Sales to Ukraine Since Return to Office
The Trump administration has finally approved its first direct commercial arms sale to Ukraine, marking a notable shift in U.S. policy just over 100 days into Trump’s second term, according to a report from Kyiv Post.
As Kyiv Post’s Alex Raufoglu reports, diplomatic sources confirmed that the White House has notified Congress of a planned export of more than $50 million worth of defense-related products through Direct Commercial Sales (DCS) — a significant development amid a partial freeze on broader military aid.
Unlike Foreign Military Sales, which are publicly announced and government-managed, DCS allows private U.S. defense companies to sell directly to foreign governments with U.S. State Department approval. These transactions typically remain under the radar.
Security analyst Colby Badhwar told Kyiv Post that all DCS are “quiet,” adding: “The news here is basically that it [U.S. arms sales] is continuing, despite everyone predicting that Trump would cut Ukraine off completely.”
The DCS approval comes after weeks of uncertainty. Since returning to office, President Trump had halted U.S. military aid to Ukraine for review, emphasizing his administration’s renewed focus on diplomacy and negotiations to end the war rather than prolonging it through armed support. The approval of this sale suggests that while overt aid may remain under scrutiny, Washington is not entirely severing Ukraine’s access to American defense equipment.
According to Kyiv Post, the new DCS license was submitted to Congress under the Arms Export Control Act, and it includes not only defense articles and technical data but also defense services. It’s the first official movement of this kind under the Trump administration, although Congress has previously authorized over $1 billion in such potential sales for Ukraine.
This sale also follows President Volodymyr Zelensky’s announcement that Ukraine plans to procure $30–50 billion worth of U.S. air defense systems and weapons in the coming years as a form of long-term security assurance.
“Defense expert Dr. Michael Cecire of RAND noted that continued arms transfers — whether through DCS, existing aid packages, or presidential drawdown authority — would give the U.S. valuable leverage as it pushes for a ceasefire. “The Trump administration has repeatedly communicated its desire for a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine,” he told Kyiv Post. “To achieve its goal will require leverage with both Kyiv and Moscow.””
The approval of this arms sale, even as peace negotiations stall, reflects a complex U.S. posture: pressing for diplomacy while keeping Ukraine armed and capable.