Proponents of continued weapons shipments are commending the United States for intervention on account of humanitarian concerns.
Well, that didn’t last long. President Donald Trump announced yesterday that his administration would resume weapons shipments to Ukraine after the Pentagon instituted a brief pause last week to allow a stockpile audit.
While speaking with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said he was “not happy” with Russian President Vladimir Putin, adding that Ukraine was “getting hit very hard”—apparently a rationale for resuming the arms shipments. “We’re going to send some more weapons,” Trump said. “We have to…They’re getting hit very hard now…I’m disappointed that President Putin has not stopped.”
The Pentagon followed up on Trump’s statement, confirming that “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 killings stop.” The resumed shipments will include Patriot missiles, GMLRS rockets, air defense interceptors, and artillery shells.
Ukraine Gets Mixed Signals from the Trump Administration
For Ukraine, the resumed weapons shipments are vital, offering an immediate boost to the beleaguered country’s defensive efforts. The Patriot and GMLRS shipments especially will strengthen critical air-defense and long-range strike capabilities at a time when Russia has continued to initiate intensive bombardments.
The resumption also signals a moral and diplomatic reassurance: America is still in Ukraine’s corner, which is likely why Ukraine has managed to stay afloat since Russia’s invasion. The notion that the United States might be losing interest in the war—a notion that some officials in the Trump administration, notably Vice President JD Vance, have done much to encourage—had shaken Zelenskyy’s government, suggesting that they might be moving forward alone into a far more dangerous future.
Proponents of continued weapons shipments are commending the United States for intervention on account of humanitarian concerns; the Russians have recently increased targeting of civilian centers, and the US-supplied air-defense systems give the Ukrainians the tools to counter those Russian attacks, hence saving civilian lives.
America’s Missile Stockpiles Are Running Dangerously Low
But not everyone is thrilled. The United States still has legitimate stockpile concerns. US military reserves, especially for high-value munitions like the Patriots, could drop below acceptable levels if production delays continue and Washington continues gifting its existing stockpile to Ukraine. And of course, sustained arms support requires long-term financial and productive capacity from Congress and the defense industrial base. These weapons systems do not come cheap—and ultimately American taxpayers are footing the bill.
The industry ramp-up, meant to salve the stockpile concerns while continuing to back the Ukrainian defense, is being funded with a $157 billion defense budget boost, most of which will end up with military-industrial giants like Raytheon and Lockheed—a concern for advocates wishing to shift America’s highest-ever defense budget towards other domestic causes such as education, housing, and infrastructure. Others argue that supplying more weapons will prolong the war, delaying off-ramps for peace, and force Russia to intensify.
Taken together, the resumption of weapons shipments offers Ukraine a much needed life-line and a strong signal of moral and diplomatic support. But maintaining support will require a sustained effort that threatens to deplete the US’s own vulnerable stockpiles—all while passing on the cost to taxpayers who have more pressing concerns.
About the Author: Harrison Kass
Harrison Kass is a Senior Defense and National Security Writer at The National Interest. Kass is an attorney and former political candidate who joined the US Air Force as a pilot trainee before being medically discharged. He focuses on military strategy, aerospace, and global security affairs. He holds a JD from the University of Oregon and a master’s in Global Journalism and International Relations from NYU.
Image: Shutterstock / Joshua Sukoff.
