Monday’s Coverage: Zelensky — “100,000s of Drones” in Deals with Europe and US
Map: Institute for the Study of War
Hegseth cut the supply after a “review” by the Pentagon’s policy planning director Elbridge Colby, a long-time sceptic of assistance for Ukraine. Arms authoritized by the Biden Administration were held up on the tarmac in Poland.
The weapons included Patriot air defense missiles, urgently needed to protect Ukrainian civilians amid Russia’s record-setting missile and drone strikes; thousands of 155-mm high-explosive Howitzer munitions; more than 100 Hellfire missiles, more than 250 GMLRS rockets; and dozens each of Stinger surface-to-air missiles, AIM air-to-air missiles, and grenade launchers.
The Pentagon said in a statement on Monday:
At President Trump’s direction, the Department of Defense is sending additional defensive weapons to Ukraine to ensure the Ukrainians can defend themselves while we work to secure a lasting peace and ensure the killing stops.
Just before the announcement, Trump said the US would send “defensive weapons, primarily”. He told reporters, “We’re going to send some more weapons. We have to. They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now.”
Colby’s “review” falsely declared a critical shortage in US stockpiles. A Pentagon assessment found some stocks of precision-guided munitions were at reduced levels, but did not reach a critical minimum.
See also Ukraine War, Day 1,228: Hegseth’s Lie to Cut Off US Arms to Kyiv
The Department of Defense covered itself yesterday, “Our framework for [the President] to evaluate military shipments across the globe remains in effect and is integral to our America First defense priorities.”