Russian invasion The world's response

Trump gives first green light to arms sales to Ukraine

On Wednesday, the Trump administration informed Congress that it is authorizing the sale of US military equipment worth $50 million or more to Ukraine, The Times and Kyiv Post report.

This is the first time Trump has approved arms sales to Ukraine since returning to the White House.

The weapons are sold through so-called direct commercial sales (DCS). Unlike foreign military sales (FMS), DCS means that Ukraine buys directly from the US defense industry, without the involvement of the US government. This type of sale does not usually get the same attention, security analyst Colby Badhwar tells Kyiv Post.

– The real news here is that US arms sales are continuing, despite everyone predicting that Trump would turn off the tap completely, he says.

EU cannot muster more than 25,000 Ukrainian soldiers

The EU would struggle to collectively muster more than 25,000 soldiers for a deterrent force in Ukraine. Sources with insight into the European defense ministers' talks told The Times.

This is grim news for the "coalition of the willing" that Britain, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, has been trying to put together in recent months ahead of a potential peace deal.

The British defense chief Tony Radakin is reported to have asked EU countries if it was possible to muster a force of 64,000 soldiers, but was told that only 25,000 would be optimistic.

- Russia has 800,000 soldiers. If we can't even muster 64,000, it doesn't just look weak - it is weak, Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene is reported to have said.