CNN: Pentagon policy shift puts billions in Ukraine arms at risk

A recent Pentagon memo has introduced a major policy shift that could see weapons and equipment intended for Ukraine redirected back into US reserves — a move that might impact billions of dollars in planned assistance.

The internal directive, authored last month by Undersecretary of Defence for Policy Elbridge Colby, gives the Defence Department the option to reroute materiel designated for Ukraine under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), according to four individuals familiar with the document, cited by CNN.

The provision, previously unreported, would allow the Pentagon to reclaim weapons produced for Ukraine under the congressionally funded USAI program and place them in American stockpiles instead. While no such diversion has occurred so far, the possibility adds new layers of uncertainty surrounding Washington’s long-term military support for Kyiv, particularly in the lead-up to a possible meeting between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin next week.

The Colby-authored memo continues to shape Pentagon policy, even after Trump overruled a recent suspension of arms shipments to Ukraine by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth, acting in line with the memo’s guidance and Colby’s known scepticism toward arming Ukraine, had halted a major weapons package last month. Trump later reversed the pause, pledging to maintain defensive aid to Ukraine amid continued Russian assaults.

Despite the President’s assurance — and a NATO deal that would see US-manufactured weapons sent to Ukraine with European nations covering the cost — the standing Pentagon policy still gives officials leeway to retain arms domestically. This has fueled concern among some defence officials about the pressure on US supplies, especially for high-demand items like interceptor missiles, air defence platforms, and artillery shells.

The USAI was originally created nearly a decade ago to provide the Pentagon with funding to procure weapons for Ukraine directly from American defence companies. Allowing those same arms to be reassigned to US stockpiles could undermine the program’s intent and derail delivery expectations for Ukraine in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, a parallel effort is underway: the US and NATO have been developing a new funding mechanism through which European allies would pool money into a central NATO account to purchase US-made weapons for Ukraine. Trump referred to this initiative in recent remarks alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, stating, “We’re not buying it, but we will manufacture it, and they’re going to be paying for it.”

Under this new system, Ukraine would submit a list of desired equipment to NATO. US Gen. Alexus Grynkewich, the head of both US European Command and NATO’s Allied Command Operations, would then assess if US inventories can fulfil the request before European partners are asked to fund the purchases.

So far, NATO allies are targeting an initial investment of $10 billion for the fund, with Dutch Prime Minister Rutte announcing this week that over $1 billion has already been committed.

In urgent cases, some European countries have agreed to send their own equipment to Ukraine and wait for backfill from the US. For example, Germany agreed last week to send two US-made Patriot systems to Ukraine and will receive replacements from the US as soon as new units roll off production lines.

However, one source familiar with the memo cautioned that while European allies are currently on board with the NATO funding mechanism, many are relying on the US to follow through on backfilling — a commitment that may remain uncertain unless explicitly authorised by the President. The source emphasised that with the Colby policy still in force, any shipment might ultimately hinge on Trump’s direct approval.

By Tamilla Hasanova