Pentagon sent over $66 billion in arms to Ukraine over two years - NYT

The U.S. Department of Defense has dispatched more than $66 billion worth of weapons, ammunition, and equipment to Ukraine over the past two years, The New York Times reported, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The transfers have come from two primary channels created under former President Joe Biden's administration, both of which initially received strong bipartisan support in Congress, including from Republicans. The majority of the weaponry has already been delivered, primarily from Pentagon stockpiles, with the final shipments scheduled for later this summer. Separately, arms acquired through defence contracts are expected to continue flowing into Ukraine through 2026.

However, in a significant development last month, senior Pentagon leaders decided to pause the delivery of certain high-value munitions—including Patriot air defence interceptors and precision-guided bombs and missiles—over concerns that U.S. reserves were being dangerously depleted. Defence and military officials had previously believed that the Pentagon could sustain Ukraine’s needs while maintaining sufficient stocks to meet America’s own wartime requirements.

Sources told The Times that the pause was a precautionary measure and not the outcome of a broader shift in strategy. “The pause on sending some munitions to Ukraine was incidental, and not the purpose of the review,” two individuals briefed on the matter said.

Uncertainty remains over exactly who within the Pentagon or the White House ordered the temporary suspension. When questioned on the issue on July 8, President Donald Trump—seated beside Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth—declined to offer clarity. “I don’t know,” Trump said in response to repeated questions. “Why don’t you tell me?”

The Trump administration has not requested any further military aid for Ukraine.

The pause was first reported by Politico, and the White House confirmed publicly that it had gone into place before the Pentagon did.

By Khagan Isayev