The Pentagon has paused the delivery of key weapons to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense missiles, as part of a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles and broader military support, according to multiple U.S. defense and congressional officials.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the halt weeks after initiating a department-wide assessment of America's weapons reserves, which have been significantly drawn down by the prolonged conflict in Ukraine and military operations in the Middle East. The review could delay the transfer of dozens of missile systems and thousands of artillery shells for weeks, or even longer, officials said.
The shipment freeze includes more than 100 Hellfire missiles, dozens of Patriot interceptors, thousands of 155 mm Howitzer shells, Stinger surface-to-air missiles, AIM air-to-air missiles, and GMLRS precision-guided systems, according to two defense officials and two congressional sources with direct knowledge of the decision.
"This decision was made to put America's interests first following a DOD review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned - just ask Iran."
Ukrainian officials have described the move as a blow to their air defense amid intensified Russian bombardments. "This decision is certainly very unpleasant for us," said Fedir Venislavskyi, a Ukrainian parliament defense committee member. "It's painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine ... it's a very unpleasant situation."
Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to President Volodymyr Zelensky, added, "It would seem inhumane to stop supplying missiles ... especially to Patriot systems, which are clearly protecting the civilian population in Ukraine on a large scale."
The White House has not confirmed whether the shipments will be resumed, though President Trump signaled potential flexibility at last week's NATO summit in The Hague. "They do want to have the anti-missile missiles," Trump said. "As they call them the Patriots, and we're going to see if we can make some available."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the pause, saying, "The fewer weapons are supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation." Russia has increased airstrikes across Ukraine in recent weeks, launching what Kyiv described as its largest aerial assault since the start of the war, including 60 missiles and nearly 500 drones in one weekend.
U.S. support for Ukraine remains under close scrutiny. A senior White House official said the munitions delay reflects a broader shift in military assistance priorities as the Trump administration reassesses foreign commitments. The paused shipments were previously approved under the Presidential Drawdown Authority and the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative during the Biden administration.
Some of the delayed weaponry is reportedly already in staging locations in Europe, awaiting final transfer to Ukrainian forces. A defense official said those shipments will remain on hold until the stockpile review is completed, and further delays are possible if shortages or competing priorities arise in other global theaters.
The U.S. has supplied more than $76 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, but Europe has recently overtaken Washington in total contributions. According to the Kiel Institute, European aid to Ukraine totaled €72 billion, surpassing the U.S. total of €65 billion.
