WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Trump administration has started sending some weapons to Ukraine again, just a week after the Pentagon told officials to pause some shipments, U.S. officials said on July 9.
The weapons being sent include 155 mm artillery shells and precision-guided rockets called GMLRS, according to two officials who spoke anonymously because the information hadn't been made public. It's not clear exactly when the shipments began moving again.
Last week, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a pause on some weapon deliveries so the Pentagon could check how much it had left in stock. The White House was surprised by this decision.
However, a White House official said that there was no "pause" but rather a review to ensure that the aid complies with U.S. military plans. The Pentagon never officially announced a pause.
Still, during a press briefing last week, Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said he couldn't share details about which weapons were paused or when they would be delivered. He said the president and the defense secretary would make those decisions.
The pause affected several weapons, including Patriot missiles, GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles, and Howitzer ammunition. This surprised not only Ukraine and U.S. allies but also some U.S. lawmakers and even other departments in the Trump administration, like the State Department.
It's still unclear if Patriot missile shipments are on hold. These missiles are very expensive -- about US$4 million each -- and are in high demand. One was used recently to protect a U.S. base in Qatar from an Iranian missile attack.
President Trump said this week that the U.S. would keep sending defensive weapons to Ukraine. But when reporters asked who ordered the pause, he gave mixed answers. On July 9, he said, “I will know if a decision is made. I’d probably be the one to give the order, but I haven’t yet.” The day before, he said, “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
According to people familiar with the situation, Trump was upset with the Pentagon for announcing the pause without checking with the White House first. The Pentagon denied that Hegseth acted alone, saying the plan was discussed across the government and meant to help the president decide on military aid.
Meanwhile, Russia has stepped up its air attacks on Ukraine, including the biggest drone strike in one night since the war began three years ago, Ukrainian officials said.
Trump also criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying, “He’s not treating people right... too many are dying.” That, Trump said, was why he approved sending more defensive weapons to Ukraine.
The 155 mm artillery shells are some of the most used in the war. They're about 2 feet long, weigh 100 pounds, and are fired from large guns called Howitzers. These can hit targets up to 15 to 20 miles away.
Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, the U.S. has sent over three million 155 mm shells and more than $67 billion in weapons and military aid.