Ukraine Resumes Receiving Weapons After Pentagon Review

The Trump administration has resumed the shipment of certain weapons to Ukraine, just a week after the Pentagon had temporarily halted some deliveries. This decision was made after a review of the Pentagon's weapons stockpiles, which was directed by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The move caught the White House by surprise, as it was not properly coordinated with the administration.

The weapons being sent to Ukraine include 155 mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS. The pause affected a range of weapons, including Patriot missiles, Hellfire missiles, Howitzer rounds, and more. The pause was not announced publicly, and it was not clear if it would hold for all types of weapons, including the Patriot missiles, which are in high demand.

President Donald Trump announced that the U.S. would continue to deliver defensive weapons to Ukraine. He has sidestepped questions about who ordered the pause, stating that he would be the first to know if a decision is made. Trump has privately expressed frustration with Pentagon officials for announcing the pause without proper coordination with the White House.

The Pentagon has denied that Hegseth acted without consulting the president, stating that the effort was coordinated across the government. The resumption of weapons shipments comes as Russia has escalated its air attacks on Ukraine, with a barrage of drones fired in a single night.

Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Russian President Vladimir Putin, stating that he is not treating human beings right and that the conflict is killing too many people. The 155 mm artillery rounds have become some of the most used munitions of the war, with the U.S. providing more than 3 million rounds to Ukraine since the invasion in February 2022. The U.S. has sent more than $67 billion in overall weapons and military assistance to Ukraine in that period.