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Washington D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump is considering authorizing new funding for Ukraine for the first time since taking office in January, CBS News reports, citing multiple diplomatic sources.
Earlier this week, Trump signaled his intention to send additional defensive weapons to Ukraine. This follows his administration’s recent suspension of some arms shipments, described by a White House official as part of a broader global review of arms transfers.
The source of the potential new funding remains unclear. However, U.S. officials told CBS News that $3.85 billion remains available to the President from the Biden-era Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which could be used to send U.S. military equipment to Ukraine. Former officials also stated that the President holds the authority to seize approximately $5 billion in Russian assets abroad and direct those funds to Ukraine, although neither Trump nor former President Joe Biden has ever exercised this power.
Casualties in Kherson and Donetsk:**
Kiev – Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Donetsk and Kherson regions over the past two days have resulted in four fatalities, according to Ukrainska Pravda.
In Kherson region, Russian forces struck critical infrastructure and residential buildings, killing one person and injuring four others. Separately, Russian attacks killed three residents in Donetsk region yesterday – in Sloviansk, Myrnograd, and Belozersk. Seven others were injured in the region: three in Sloviansk, two in Pokrovsk, and one each in Myrnograd and Vartivka.
Moscow Claims Drone Interceptions:**
Moscow – Russian air defenses downed 36 Ukrainian drones overnight across four regions, the Russian Defense Ministry announced via Telegram.
Twenty-six drones were intercepted over Belgorod region, four over Voronezh region, three over Lipetsk region, and three over Nizhny Novgorod region.
Further Attack in Kherson:**
Kiev – One person was wounded following a Russian attack on the city of Kherson in southern Ukraine overnight, the Regional Military Administration reported via Telegram, as cited by RBC-Ukraine.
“A 61-year-old resident of Kherson was hospitalized in moderate condition,” the Administration stated.
Russian Warship Deployment:**
Kiev – Russia has deployed three warships into the Mediterranean Sea today, including an aircraft carrier equipped with Kalibr cruise missiles, the Ukrainian Navy reported via RBC-Ukraine.
“There are three enemy ships in the Mediterranean Sea, one of which is an aircraft carrier with Kalibr cruise missiles, carrying a total salvo of four missiles,” a press statement read. Simultaneously, no Russian warships were reported in the Black Sea or the Sea of Azov this morning.