Pentagon pauses shipments of key munitions to Ukraine amid stockpile concerns Sources tell POLITICO

The Pentagon has halted deliveries of certain air defence missiles and precision munitions to Ukraine over concerns that U.S. weapon stockpiles are running dangerously low, sources familiar with the decision told POLITICO.

The move, initiated by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby following a review of munitions reserves, affects weapons including Patriot air defence missiles, Hellfire missiles, precision artillery rounds, and missiles launched from Ukrainian F-16s and drones.

The initial decision was made in early June but is only now being implemented as Ukraine continues to repel large-scale Russian missile and drone attacks.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly defended the decision, stating it was made “to put America’s interests first” following a Department of Defence review. She emphasised the strength of U.S. forces remains “unquestioned.”

This pause has sparked concern among U.S. lawmakers and experts. Representative Marcy Kaptur warned that withholding Patriot systems and other air defences could cost Ukrainian lives, as these systems are central to Ukraine’s defence against frequent Russian aerial assaults. Missile defence expert Tom Karako noted that while air defences alone won’t win the war, their absence could lead to swift defeat.

The halt affects munitions from two key support streams: stockpiles drawn down under the Biden administration with replenishment funding, and weapons procured through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funded by Congress. Although no new aid requests have been made by the current administration, existing funds should sustain Ukraine for several more months.

Sources said the Pentagon had considered pausing shipments since March amid concerns about excessive use of air defence munitions in other conflicts like Yemen. Plans were reportedly underway to redirect artillery, tank shells, and air defence missiles back to U.S. reserves or allies like Israel.

The decision comes as Russia launched its largest recent aerial assault on Ukraine with hundreds of missiles and drones, many intercepted by Ukrainian defences.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump, after meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO summit, expressed support for potentially supplying more Patriot systems, despite the Pentagon’s freeze.

The move echoes the 2019 Trump administration’s controversial hold on Ukraine aid, which was later ruled unlawful by the Government Accountability Office.

As production of critical interceptors like the Patriot MSE takes time to ramp up, U.S. military officials face challenges balancing support to Ukraine with maintaining their own stockpiles.

By Tamilla Hasanova