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US Pauses Key Ammo and Missile Deliveries to Ukraine, Including Patriots and GMLRS

US Pauses Key Ammo and Missile Deliveries to Ukraine, Including Patriots and GMLRS

The United States has temporarily suspended deliveries of key ammunition and air defense missiles to Ukraine, including Patriot interceptors, GMLRS, Stinger, AIM-7 missiles, and 155mm artillery shells.

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Vlad Litnarovych
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It will affect even munitions already en route through transit hubs like Poland, which have now been held back from entering Ukraine, according to a Politico report on July 2.

While the Pentagon clarified this is not a total freeze on aid, it marks a significant shift in how Washington prioritizes its military support to foreign partners amid growing global tensions.

The decision was also confirmed by PBS correspondent Nick Schifrin.

Strategic stockpile concerns behind the pause

The suspension follows a Pentagon review led by policy chief Elbridge Colby, who raised alarms over dangerously depleted US stockpiles of critical munitions.

Officials cited a need to shore up domestic readiness in the face of rising threats abroad, including escalating tensions in the Middle East and Indo-Pacific.

“This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” said White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly. “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran.”

The halt encompasses a mix of air defense and precision-guided munitions that have formed the backbone of Ukraine’s defensive efforts since the full-scale Russian invasion began more than two years ago.

These include not just interceptors for Patriot systems but also Hellfire missiles and other weapons Ukraine uses in conjunction with F-16 fighter jets and drones.

Fallout in Ukraine and Congress

The freeze comes at a precarious time for Ukraine. In late June, Russia launched its largest aerial assault of the war, firing over 60 missiles and deploying 477 drones and decoys in a multi-day barrage. Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted roughly half, but Pentagon-supplied weapons were central to that success.

“If this reporting is true, then Mr. Colby is taking action that will surely result in the imminent death of many Ukrainian military and civilians,” warned Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), co-chair of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus. “US-made air defense systems, including the Patriot platform, are the centerpiece of Ukraine’s defenses … They work. They save lives every day.”

Pentagon insiders told Politico that the decision had been in the works since early June but took effect only recently.

Internally, officials had divided US munitions by criticality amid concern that excessive stocks were being drained in simultaneous theaters, including the Middle East, where US systems are used to counter Houthi drone attacks in Yemen.

Trump administration recalculates aid strategy

The freeze comes just days after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the Netherlands.

While Trump signaled he remained open to supplying more Patriot systems—“They do want to have the anti-missile missiles… and we’re going to see if we can make some available,” he said—the administration is now reviewing how future aid packages are structured.

An updated US assistance strategy is expected soon, potentially offering a more flexible model that accounts for battlefield dynamics and inventory constraints.

Despite this pause, the Pentagon insists Ukraine will continue receiving aid for several months. Leftover funds from the Biden-era $61 billion supplemental still allow for weapons deliveries under contracts previously signed with US defense contractors. However, no new Ukraine aid has been requested by the Trump administration to date.

Analysts say the long-term impact hinges on how quickly production lines can catch up. “Air defense won’t win a war for you—but the absence of it will lose one fast,” said Tom Karako, missile defense expert at the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

Earlier, reports emerged that Ukrainian battlefield experience has significantly improved the effectiveness of the Patriot air defense system.

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