Rubio claims US never planned to pause arms deliveries to Ukraine
(MENAFN) US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that the United States ever fully suspended military aid to Ukraine, despite recent reports of a temporary Pentagon-ordered pause. He clarified that the brief halt only applied to a limited range of munitions and was done to reassess stockpile levels.
Last week, the Pentagon confirmed that some shipments, including air defense systems and artillery shells, were put on hold. The decision, reportedly made by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth—who has expressed doubts about continued aid to Ukraine—sparked concern among US allies and criticism from Ukrainian officials.
Rubio addressed the matter in a press conference, stating, “That decision unfortunately was mischaracterized. It was a pause pending review on a handful of specific type munitions.” He emphasized the pause was narrow in scope and intended to ensure the US maintained enough supplies for other global commitments.
He stressed that “the overwhelming majority” of American military assistance to Ukraine continued without disruption and followed previously established delivery timelines. Most of the aid, Rubio added, is defensive in nature, but Ukraine still urgently requires more Patriot missile systems.
Earlier this week, Axios reported that President Donald Trump committed to sending ten Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine. Each interceptor costs around $4 million and typically takes two to stop one incoming threat. Despite this pledge, concerns persist that US support for Ukraine may be declining.
This marks the third time under Trump’s presidency that aid shipments have been temporarily halted. While Trump has promised continued assistance, he has also acknowledged the high cost and limited availability of advanced systems like the Patriot.
Unlike former President Joe Biden, Trump has reopened direct dialogue with Russia and is advocating for a ceasefire. Moscow has cautiously welcomed signs of reduced US military involvement, arguing that Western arms have prolonged the conflict without altering its outcome.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked that despite Trump’s apparent interest in peace, US arms deliveries continue. He warned that Washington’s mixed signals complicate diplomatic progress and asserted that fully ending weapons shipments would help bring the conflict closer to resolution.
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