Trump Reverses Course: Ukraine Weapons Shipments to Resume After White House Frustration
Trump Reverses Course: Ukraine Weapons Shipments to Resume After White House Frustration
President Donald Trump has ordered the resumption of defensive weapons shipments to Ukraine, overturning a Pentagon decision last week to pause some deliveries. The reversal comes after Trump privately expressed significant frustration with Pentagon officials for announcing the halt without proper White House coordination.
The Pentagon had cited concerns about dwindling U.S. stockpiles as the reason for holding back air defense missiles, precision-guided artillery, and other armaments. However, Trump publicly stated on Monday that the U.S. must send more weapons to Ukraine, emphasizing the need for them to defend themselves against escalating Russian barrages.
Sources familiar with the internal discussions indicated that the Pentagon’s pause, coordinated by policy chief Elbridge Colby, had faced some internal opposition. White House officials reportedly felt blindsided by the announcement. Pentagon press secretary Kingsley Wilson, while denying Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth acted without consulting the president, affirmed that the department would continue to provide the President with options consistent with his goal of ending the conflict and prioritizing American interests.
In a notable shift, Trump also voiced strong exasperation with Russian President Vladimir Putin during a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, despite a recent phone call between the two leaders. He criticized Putin for unnecessarily prolonging the war, stating, “We get a lot of bull—- thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth.”
The Pentagon confirmed late Monday that, at Trump’s direction, weapons shipments would resume to ensure Ukraine’s defense while pursuing a lasting peace. The exact weaponry to be sent remains unclear, though Trump emphasized a focus on defensive arms. Efforts are underway within the military to assess current munitions stockpiles, a process described as “still doing the math” by one official, to determine which items are at critical levels.
The previous pause had surprised not only Ukrainian officials and allies but also U.S. lawmakers and parts of the Trump administration, including the State Department. Senior Republican figures, including Sen. Mitch McConnell, welcomed the resumption of aid, urging the administration to avoid limiting deliveries to only defensive weapons and to invest more in expanding munitions production.
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