Trump Reverses Pentagon Pause, Resumes Ukraine Arms \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ President Trump overruled the Pentagon’s temporary halt in Ukraine weapons shipments, expressing frustration at the lack of White House coordination. The reversal comes amid heightened Russian attacks and Trump’s growing exasperation with President Putin. Internal tensions remain over stockpile concerns and delays in U.S. munitions production.
Quick Looks
- Trump was “flat-footed” by Pentagon’s pause announcement.
- Pentagon cited munitions shortages for weapon shipment delays.
- Trump criticized Putin, calling talks meaningless so far.
- U.S. resumes Ukraine aid with focus on defensive arms.
- Ukraine faces intensified Russian air attacks this summer.
- Trump’s cabinet unaware of pause; internal split emerges.
- Munitions inventory still under Pentagon-wide review.
- Production shortfalls delay supply goals for 155mm shells, Patriots.
Deep Look
In a high-stakes reversal, President Donald Trump has directed the Pentagon to resume shipments of critical defensive weapons to Ukraine after privately expressing frustration over a decision made without direct White House coordination. The move comes amid escalating Russian air attacks and mounting political pressure to maintain U.S. support for Kyiv.
Last week, Pentagon officials announced a pause in the delivery of key weapons — including Patriot air defense systems, precision-guided GMLRS munitions, and Howitzer rounds — citing concerns over diminishing U.S. stockpiles. The delay drew sharp criticism from both Ukrainian officials and American lawmakers. Trump, according to three individuals familiar with internal deliberations, was blindsided by the announcement and felt it had undermined his administration’s strategic messaging.
Two sources said that the pause, which had been orchestrated by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, was internally contested even before it became public. Trump, described by one insider as caught “flat-footed,” quickly moved to counter the decision, effectively overruling it by Monday night.
“They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now,” Trump said, acknowledging the intensifying Russian air campaign that has put additional strain on Ukraine’s defense infrastructure in the over three-year-long war.
On Tuesday, Trump appeared irritated when asked by a reporter who had authorized the weapons freeze. “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?” he snapped during a Cabinet meeting, revealing the discord between the Pentagon and the White House.
The president also escalated his rhetoric toward Russian President Vladimir Putin, signaling a clear shift in tone from earlier diplomatic restraint. Trump said he was increasingly frustrated by what he called empty assurances from Moscow. “We get a lot of bull—- thrown at us by Putin,” he said. “He’s very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.”
Although Trump has refrained from imposing new sanctions on Russia’s oil exports — a powerful economic tool — he confirmed that harsher measures are under consideration. On Tuesday, he said he is “looking at it very strongly.”
His comments follow a statement from Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who revealed Trump has given him the green light to advance a legislative package that would impose a 500% tariff on imports from countries purchasing Russian oil. If passed, the bill could have dramatic implications for nations like China and India, two major buyers of Russian crude.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon announced that it would resume arms deliveries at Trump’s instruction, “to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops,” according to spokesperson Sean Parnell. However, Parnell added that the Pentagon-wide audit of munitions remains ongoing as part of Trump’s “America First” strategic doctrine.
The temporary pause in deliveries had alarmed U.S. allies and even surprised departments within the administration, including the State Department. There are still questions about whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth consulted the White House before announcing the halt.
As of Tuesday, each military branch and combatant command was continuing to compile updated inventories of their respective munitions, according to a senior U.S. official. The process involves a detailed “stoplight chart” system, identifying available stockpiles in red, yellow, or green status.
The preliminary findings showed some munitions could be safely exported to Ukraine, but others were reaching critically low levels — particularly the 155mm artillery shells and Patriot missile systems, both essential to Ukraine’s ongoing defense operations.
Tracking U.S. inventories is made more complicated by the layered logistics of military procurement and deployment. Once a system like the Patriot missile is transferred from the Army to a combatant command — such as U.S. Central Command — the original service loses visibility over those assets.
Army spokesman Steve Warren acknowledged delays in the military’s production ramp-up. The Pentagon had aimed to produce 100,000 155mm shells per month by late 2025, but that target has now slipped to 2026. Scaling up Patriot missile production has also proven more difficult than anticipated.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) praised the President’s decision to resume aid. “This time, the President will need to reject calls from the isolationists and restrainers within his Administration to limit these deliveries to defensive weapons,” McConnell said. “And he should disregard those at DoD who invoke munitions shortages to block aid while refusing to invest seriously in expanding munitions production.”
As Ukraine continues to endure intensified bombardment and the war drags on with no diplomatic breakthrough, Trump’s reversal may stabilize relations with allies — but the internal friction it exposed between the White House and the Pentagon is unlikely to fade quickly.
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