U.S. Secretary of State Pete Hegseth recently paused an agreed shipment of military aid to Ukraine. Notably, he made this decision unilaterally and without input from other officials. Before his announcement, Ukraine was set to receive critical supplies, including air defence missiles and precision-guided weapons.
These aid commitments were made under former President Joe Biden’s administration. However, Hegseth told reporters that the shipments would stop. According to an NBC News report, military experts argued that the supplies would not weaken U.S. defence readiness. Yet, this marks the third time Hegseth has blocked aid to Ukraine.
Trump Defends the Decision
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump supported the pause. When asked about it, he said, “Biden emptied our whole country, giving them weapons, and we have to make sure we have enough for ourselves.” In response, a White House spokesperson explained that the move was “made to put America’s interests first following a [defence department] review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe.”
Furthermore, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized, “The capability review is being conducted to ensure US military aid aligns with our defence priorities.” He also clarified, “Our military has everything that it needs to conduct any mission, anywhere, anytime, all around the world.”
Lawmakers Voice Opposition
However, many lawmakers in Congress were surprised. In particular, Democratic leaders argued that U.S. weapon stockpiles are not running low. Congressman Adam Smith, ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said, “We are not at any lower point, stockpile-wise, than we’ve been in the three-and-a-half years of the Ukraine conflict.” He added, “There is no justification to suspend aid to Ukraine.”
Significantly, the delayed shipment includes dozens of Patriot interceptor missiles, howitzers, and other advanced weapon systems. These tools are vital for defending Ukrainian cities under Russian attack.
Ukraine Feels the Impact
Simultaneously, Russia has stepped up its bombardment of Ukraine. As a result, Ukrainian leaders have expressed concern over the U.S. decision. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of Ukraine’s defence committee, told Reuters, “This decision is certainly very unpleasant for us. It’s painful, and against the background of the terrorist attacks which Russia commits against Ukraine.”
So far, the U.S. Department of Defense has not officially responded to these criticisms.
