Trump administration approves sale of more than 3,000 extended range missiles to Ukraine

The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of up to 3,350 Extended Range Attack Munition (ERAM) missiles and related equipment to Ukraine for $825 million, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on Friday.

The missiles and equipment will be funded by Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway, as well as through U.S. foreign military financing.

“This proposed sale will improve Ukraine’s capability to meet current and future threats by further equipping it to conduct self-defense and regional security missions,” the agency said.

The Pentagon emphasized that the ERAM sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region” and will not affect U.S. combat readiness.

The Wall Street Journal previously reported that Ukraine would receive the ERAMs, which have a range of 240–450 kilometers (150–280 miles). According to the newspaper, Kyiv would need Pentagon approval to use them. CNN reports that Ukraine could receive the missiles as early as 2025, but it’s still unclear whether the U.S. will impose any restrictions on their use. 

The ERAM sale is the first major deal for a new type of weapon for Ukraine approved by the Trump administration, CNN notes. Previously, the Trump White House only approved sales of U.S. equipment and arms that the United States or its allies had already supplied to Kyiv.