The newspaper specified that the supplies will be made through direct sales, and this will be the first authorization for such an operation during the current administration of US President Donald Trump.

Unlike the previous aid, the new supplies will be made on a commercial basis. The newspaper does not specify whether the mechanism of the minerals deal, which allows military aid to be counted as a US contribution to a pooled investment fund with Ukraine, will be involved in this case. Neither does it mention the specific kinds of weapons to be transferred to Kiev.

A few hours earlier, senior officials from Kiev and Washington confirmed the signing of the Ukraine-US minerals deal, which provides for the creation of a joint investment fund.

jrr/iff/mem/gfa