New Pentagon policy could lead weapons for Ukraine in US reserves

New Pentagon policy could lead weapons for Ukraine in US reserves

A recently published memo of the Pentagon head of politics from the last month offers the Department of Defense the opportunity to redirect certain weapons and equipment that was originally intended for Ukraine. This could represent a dramatic change in which billions of dollars that were previously intended for the country, which were previously intended for the war, are used to fill up the shrinking American stocks.

uncertain situation of arms deliveries to Ukraine

The memo provides additional uncertainty in the already unclear status of US arms deliveries to Ukraine, especially before a possible meeting of President Donald Trump with the Russian President Vladimir Putin in the coming week. Despite Trump's approval of a plan for the sale of US weapons to Ukraine via NATO, there are still considerable concerns within the Pentagon, whether KyiW's support should not be at the expense of national supplies in conflict with Russia. This applies in particular to high -demand objects that are scarce, such as interceptors, air defense systems and artillery.

arms delivery break and their consequences

last month to deliver a large supply of arms to Ukraine. At that time, Hegseth acted in accordance with the Pentagon Memo, which the well-known skeptic was written in relation to the arms care of Ukraine, Sub-State Secretary Elbridge Colby. Shortly after the break became public, Trump raised Hegseth's decision and promised to continue to deliver defensive weapons to Ukraine, in view of almost daily attacks from Russia.

The Colby Memo, however, remains in force and contains a previously unmelded provision that allows the Pentagon to be released into the US stocks that were explicitly drawn up weapons for Ukraine as part of the Ukraine (USI) program financed by the Congress. Sources reported that no weapons have been redirected so far, but this regulation could withdraw billions of dollars of US materials that are expected in the coming months and years.

new means and changes in the USA program

The USA program, which was set up in 2016, traditionally provided Ukraine a stable weapon supply. The Senate recently provided an additional $ 800 million for the USAi as part of the annual budget law of the Pentagon, known as a national defense authorization act. However, it remains unclear whether the weapons produced with these means are actually delivered to Ukraine under the new policy of Pentagon.

Under previous governments, high-ranking Pentagon officials believed that the redirection of weapons produced by the USA would violate impoundment control act. This law strengthens the power of the congress on funds and requires the president inform the legislators about any delay or restraint of agents approved by the congress.

support in the Senate and changes in arms policy

The new politics is already encountering resistance in the Senate. In the proposed NDAA for 2026, the legislators have inserted a provision in the past few weeks, which states that weapons can only be reabsed by the Pentagon if they have not yet been transferred to Ukraine and are no longer required to support the USA training, equipment and consulting activities. According to the law, Hegseth must also inform the congress before moving back these stocks.

shift in support for Ukraine to Europe

The new politics comes at the same time when the Trump administration extensively searches for opportunities to transfer the load of weapon supply, equipment and training of Ukraine to Europe and NATO. In the past, Colby has also urged to preserve more US stocks for a possible future war with China. Regardless of the USA, the Pentagon still has around $ 4 billion in financing options that the Congress approved last year to send weapons from the US stocks to Ukraine.

Some NATO allies, including the United Kingdom, have urged the United States to use this authority to put pressure on Putin and offered to compensate the USA for the costs. In this context, the chairpersons of the Senate Committee on Armed Forces and the Committee on Foreign Relations, the Republican Senators Roger Wicker and Jim Risch, brought in a law last week that would create a US treasury fund in which Allied money can be paid in order to finance US military equipment that is donated to Ukraine.

categorization of the arms camp

The Colby Memo, which Hegseth has approved, remains the guideline of the Pentagon according to the sources. It categorizes the US stocks in the categories "red", "yellow" and "green". The red and yellow categories include weapons that the Pentagon assesses as rare and that now require an explicit approval of Hegseth before it is relocated to another location.

For example, interceptors for Patriot air defense systems fall into the red category. The weapon package, which was exposed by Hegseth last month, included dozens of interceptors, but Trump ordered Hegseth to continue to deliver it despite the break. However, it is unclear whether other weapons in this package are also in the red category and whether they were delivered, although there is still a need for a multi-layered air defense system to protect the cities from the daily rocket and drone attacks.

NATO account for arms deliveries to Ukraine

In the meantime, the Ministry of Defense also works with NATO on a new system for the delivery of weapons to European allies, who can then pass them on to Ukraine. This mechanism would essentially create a NATO account in which allies can deposit money to buy weapons from the USA. Trump made allusions to this new system last month when he explained during a meeting with NATO general secretary Mark Rutte that "we made a deal where we will send them weapons and you will pay for it."

Under the system, the Ukraine would send a wish list of weapons and equipment directly to NATO, and US general Alexus Grynkewich-the US Europe command structure and the Allied military surgery of NATO-would have decided whether the United States has sufficiently in stock before it passes on the list to European partners. NATO allied work on a starting point of $ 10 billion to invest in the NATO account to support weapons for Ukraine. Rutte announced on Tuesday that the allies have already promised over $ 1 billion for Ukraine arming.

For some urgently needed skills, some European countries have also agreed to deliver their own stock directly to Ukraine and to wait for refilling through the USA. For example, the United States has concluded a contract with Germany in which Germany delivered two of its patriot systems produced in the USA to Ukraine and will acquire new ones from the USA that will be delivered as soon as possible after production.

Some sources have pointed out that the realization of these plans could be difficult if the Colby Directive remains in force, since this could mean that everything that requires less than a direct approval of the president may not be possible.