Ukraine's defense capability is critically dependent on American weapons the transfer of which is now hostage to Trump's decisions. The US Department of Defense not only confirmed the suspension of aid to Ukraine but also stated that production distribution is under review.
This raises the question of whether a safety mechanism exists to ensure Ukraine still receives the aid promised under Biden. We are talking about weapons manufactured under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) program. This program covers $14.6 billion allocated for the weapons production for Ukraine.
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The US Department of Defense is the customer for this weaponry, which was selected in coordination with the State Department after consultations with Ukraine. The Department of Defense serves as the contractual partner for weapons manufacturers and takes delivery of the weapons, which were intended for subsequent transfer to Ukraine. This is exactly where the problems began — the Pentagon has openly stated that it needs the weapons more.
At the same time, there is an important nuance in the USAI program — namely, how it was approved. It was a collegial decision involving two branches of the American government. USAI is implemented within the state budget and was voted on by Congress, the legislative branch of government, while the ministries are responsible for its implementation.
This is another key difference between the USAI and the now-defunct PDA. Under the PDA, authority rested entirely with the executive branch, as the US president instructed the defense secretary to decrease existing stockpiles.
In other words, if the implementation of USAI is actually canceled, it means that a certain appointed official is opposing a decision made by Congress. In this case, the American system of checks and balances should come into play. There are signs that it will happen.
In particular, in March, Trump's decision to stop aid to Ukraine was met with criticism within the Republican Party. As a result, due to leaks in the media, the blame was shifted to US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, who allegedly gave a verbal order to suspend not the aid itself, but only its delivery.
Meanwhile, every Republican vote is crucial for passing legislation supported by the White House. That is why there is still hope that this system will work now.
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