US pauses missile deliveries to Ukraine amid stockpile fears
The United States has paused deliveries of anti-aircraft missiles and other high-precision ammunition to Ukraine, due to concerns about significantly dwindling domestic stockpiles within the U.S. military.
Elbridge Colby, a high-ranking Pentagon official, reportedly championed this decision in early June, according to an investigation published by Politico..
Sources cited by the publication state that the affected weapons include missiles for Patriot systems, Hellfire missiles, and other types of ammunition used by Ukraine. These deliveries had been previously approved by the Biden administration, but the blocking measure was taken back in June and is now coming into effect as Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine in the past three months of the war.
The White House reacted after the information surfaced, with Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly clarifying that the decision was made "in America's national interest," following a review of military support provided to other states. "The U.S. Armed Forces unequivocally remain the strongest in the world — just ask Iran," the official stated.
The Pentagon's decision has caused unease among Ukraine's supporters in the U.S. Congress. "American air defense systems, including Patriot, are the backbone of Ukraine's defense. They work. They save lives every day," said Marcy Kaptur, a Democratic representative from Ohio and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. "If the reports are accurate, Mr. Colby is making decisions that will inevitably lead to the loss of lives among Ukrainian soldiers and civilians."
According to Politico, the blocked munitions originate from two main sources: current Pentagon stockpiles (with subsequent reimbursement of funds) and funds allocated through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), through which the U.S. orders weapons from American industry for delivery to Ukraine. USAI funds had already been committed until the end of President Biden's term, and deliveries now depend on the availability of those systems.
The Trump administration, which has not requested additional funding for Ukraine, is currently utilizing the remainder of the $61 billion previously allocated by Congress for military aid to both Ukraine and to allies like Israel.
Experts warn that a lack of anti-aircraft ammunition could severely weaken Ukraine's ability to repel attacks. "Air defense does not win a war, but its absence can quickly lose one," said Tom Karako, a defense systems specialist at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). According to him, while the U.S. military has quadrupled its demand for Patriot MSE interceptors, production cannot be accelerated overnight.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
