The United States has suspended several critical arms shipments to Ukraine, catching officials in Kiev off guard as American stockpiles of essential munitions face growing strain after more than three years of military support to Ukraine and nearly two years of commitments to Israel.
The decision—confirmed this week by both the White House and the Pentagon—affects deliveries of Patriot PAC-3 interceptor missiles, Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, 155mm artillery shells, GMLRS precision-guided rockets, AIM-series air-to-air missiles, and Hellfire missiles. All of these weapons have played a key role in Ukraine’s defense during the 40-month-long war with Russia.
According to U.S. officials, the suspension follows a comprehensive Pentagon review, which concluded that American inventories of these munitions have been dangerously depleted. Compounding the issue are escalating U.S. military commitments in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific regions.
White House Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated on Wednesday that the decision reflects a commitment to “put America’s interests first.” U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matthew Whitaker echoed the sentiment, calling the move a “necessary implementation of an America First policy.”
Among the affected shipments are 20 Patriot PAC-3 missiles and 90 AIM air-to-air missiles, reportedly intended for use with Ukraine’s Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets. These shipments had already arrived in Poland and were scheduled for transfer to Ukraine before being halted.
Reports from multiple outlets suggest Ukrainian officials were not given prior notice and were left “stunned” by the announcement.
The suspension comes just one week after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky appealed directly to U.S. President Donald Trump during the NATO Summit in The Hague for additional Patriot missiles, citing intensified Russian airstrikes.
While the Trump administration briefly paused arms shipments and intelligence sharing to Ukraine in March as leverage in ceasefire negotiations with Russia, this latest halt appears broader and potentially more enduring. Officials have suggested that the combination of exhausted stockpiles and global security obligations could mark the beginning of a more permanent policy shift—one that leaves Europe to shoulder the primary burden of Ukraine’s defense.