The Trump administration has halted part of the military aid meant for Ukraine following a review of America's own military stockpiles. Both the White House and the Pentagon have confirmed this development.
This decision has been made to prioritise America's interests after reviewing our country's military support and aid provided to other nations around the world," stated White House spokesman Anna Kelly. Several American media outlets, citing sources, reported that this step was taken due to concerns about the severely depleted U.S. military stockpile.
According to the news agency, last month U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a memorandum ordering a review of the weapons stockpile following three years of aid to Ukraine and recent attacks by Yemen’s Houthi group and Iran.
Stockpiles Low, Some Promised Weapons in Short Supply
Media reports indicate that the review found stock levels of some previously pledged weapons to be critically low. Undersecretary of Defence for Policy, Elbridge Colby, stated that the Pentagon will continue to provide strong options to the President in order to maintain military support to Ukraine, in line with the goal of ending the war.
Colby added, “At the same time, the department is strictly reviewing and adjusting its approach to achieving this goal, so that the readiness of U.S. forces and the administration’s defense priorities are also safeguarded.”
Zelensky Desperate for Patriot Missiles
Last week, after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit held in The Hague, U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters that Ukraine is very eager to receive Patriot air defense missiles from the U.S.
Trump said, “They want anti-missile missiles. We’ll see if we can make something available. We need them too. We’re also giving them to Israel. They are highly effective — 100 percent effective. It’s hard to believe how effective they are. Ukraine needs these more than anything else.”
U.S. Has Already Given Over $66 Billion in Military Aid
A report claims that the United States has given Ukraine more than $66 billion in military aid and weapons since the Russia-Ukraine conflict started in February 2022.
