The United States has restarted selected arms deliveries to Ukraine just days after a temporary halt was ordered by the Pentagon, U.S. officials confirmed on Wednesday. The pause, which included key munitions, had triggered confusion across both Washington and Kyiv.
Among the resumed shipments are 155mm artillery shells and precision-guided GMLRS rockets, two widely used weapon systems in Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion. According to officials speaking on condition of anonymity, the timeline for when shipments recommenced remains unclear.
Last week’s suspension, initiated by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, was aimed at reviewing U.S. military stockpiles. The move reportedly surprised not only Ukrainian and NATO officials, but also members of Congress and departments within the Trump administration, including the State Department. Included in the pause were Patriot missiles, Hellfires, Howitzer shells, and more.
Whether the freeze on Patriot missile deliveries will remain in effect is uncertain. The high-cost system—valued at roughly $4 million per unit—has been in heavy demand. Last month, it played a critical role in intercepting Iranian missiles during an attack on a U.S. base in Qatar.
President Donald Trump confirmed on Monday that the U.S. would proceed with defensive aid to Ukraine, though his public remarks have raised questions about the chain of command. “If a decision is made, I’ll be the first to know. Most likely, I’d be the one giving the order,” he said Wednesday. A day earlier, when pressed on who had paused the shipments, he quipped, “I don’t know. Why don’t you tell me?”
Sources say Trump privately fumed over the Pentagon’s handling of the pause, claiming it lacked proper coordination with the White House. The Department of Defense, however, maintained that Hegseth’s actions were part of a government-wide framework to help the president evaluate aid flows and inventory.
The resumed weapons shipments come as Russia intensifies its air campaign over Ukraine. On Wednesday, Ukrainian authorities reported the highest single-night drone barrage since the war began over three years ago.
Trump also appeared to harden his stance against Russian President Vladimir Putin. “Putin is not treating human beings right,” he said during a Cabinet meeting, referencing the Kremlin’s escalating attacks. “It’s killing too many people. So we’re sending some defensive weapons to Ukraine, and I’ve approved that.”
The 155mm artillery shells—measuring two feet long and weighing about 100 pounds—have become essential to Ukraine’s battlefield efforts. Fired from Howitzers, they can strike targets up to 20 miles away, providing critical range and firepower from behind the front lines.
Since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, the U.S. has supplied Ukraine with over 3 million of these shells and committed more than $67 billion in military aid, underscoring Washington’s ongoing commitment—even amid political friction at home.
