Cancellation of Weapon Shipments to Ukraine
U.S. Defense Secretary Hegseth has ordered the cancellation of weapon shipments to Ukraine, triggering concern and confusion in Kyiv. The military assistance, which typically passes through Poland before being transferred to Ukrainian representatives, was abruptly halted in February 2025 with the cancellation of eleven scheduled flights.
Despite the Biden administration’s prior approval of these shipments, the weapons remain stockpiled in Poland due to orders from U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM). Sources suggest Hegseth may have misinterpreted existing agreements and provided misleading information to the President regarding Ukraine policy and military aid.
Reports indicate that lower-level Pentagon staff advised Hegseth to halt the aid. It remains unclear whether this constitutes a complete cutoff or a temporary logistical pause. According to insiders, the White House may be seeking to use the pause in military support as leverage in potential peace negotiations with Russia.
A policy dialogue has reportedly taken place between National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Ukrainian envoy Keith Kellogg. Since February 2022, the Biden administration had approved billions of dollars in military aid for Ukraine. However, during the 2024 campaign, Donald Trump repeatedly threatened to freeze such aid. The shipment halt coincided with Ukrainian forces retreating from the Kursk region in Russia.
Trump has pledged to mediate between Ukraine and Russia in hopes of achieving a ceasefire. Meanwhile, some U.S. lawmakers are calling for a reduction in overseas military commitments, particularly in the Middle East and Europe, to refocus attention on China.
Notably, Washington has recently signed an agreement with Kyiv securing access to Ukraine’s rare earth minerals—part of a broader “recovery and readjustment” strategy tied to U.S. expenditures in the region. As of now, no new policy on Ukraine aid has been officially announced.
(Source: Reuters)