President Donald Trump ordered the resumption of weapon shipments to Ukraine, a week after Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth paused deliveries without consulting the White House.
Among the munitions delayed were artillery shells and Patriot air defence missiles—which has been described by Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelensky as "real protectors of life".
"We want to put defensive weapons because Putin is not treating human beings right, he's killing too many people. So we're sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine and I've approved that," Trump said.
Last week, the Pentagon had stopped shipments of Patriot missiles, precision-guided GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles, Howitzer rounds, and other defensive ammunition.
Rift in Trump admin?
According to the American media, Secretary of Defence Pete Hegseth had approved the pause without informing the White House.
The incident has exposed what many perceive as a chaotic policy-making process in the Trump administration, particularly under Hegseth at the Department of Defence.
But it raises a serious question. Is there any split within Trump's Cabinet over arming Ukraine? Or is this another case of a reversal in foreign policy stance?
Turns out, it was neither.
US weapons stockpile is low
According to a report by the Guardian, the pause was driven by Washington’s dwindling stockpile of key weapons. The US only has about 25% of the Patriot missile interceptors it needs for the Pentagon’s military plans. : Patriot missile interceptors were largely used in the Middle East in recent months, especially during the Houthi attacks and the Israel-Iran conflict.
: The low stockpile of Patriot missiles raised concerns within the Pentagon, as it could jeopardise potential US military operations.
The Pentagon decided to halt transfers, while they reviewed where the weapons were being sent.
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But it wasn't under the Trump administration that the stockpile of weapons fell to a historic low.
According to a tracker managed by the joint chiefs of staff and the Pentagon, US weapon reserves have been below their threshold since the Biden administration.
After coming to power, Trump had started a review of Patriot missiles and other munitions around February.
But the fast-developing situation in the Middle East forced the US to deploy its Patriot missiles.
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Now, Trump has promised to send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine. That's 20 short of the original amount, which was ready for delivery last week.
And Ukraine is apparently not happy. Officials in Kyiv have described the number of Patriots being supplied as “minuscule”.
Ukraine’s Defence Ministry says it is seeking to clarify the details
