Pentagon Quietly Halted Ukraine Shells, NYT Reports
The New York Times reports that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quietly blocked artillery shells and Patriot missiles for Ukraine, leaving supplies stalled in Germany.
In March 2025, U. S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quietly blocked the transfer of several thousand 155-mm artillery shells to Ukraine without notifying other officials, according to anonymous U. S. Army officers cited by The New York Times.
The ammunition shipments had previously been approved under former President Joe Biden’s administration. U.S. military officers described Hegseth’s move as a «shadow ban», imposed without public explanation or formal announcement.
According to the sources, the decision was driven by two factors. One was the critically low level of ammunition stockpiles within the U.S. military itself. The other was a calculated effort to push European partners to step up their support for Kiev.
As a result, artillery shells urgently needed by the Ukrainian army remained stored in warehouses in Germany for three months. This happened despite repeated requests from General Christopher Cavoli, the commander of U.S. forces in Europe, who pressed for the delivery to proceed.
The New York Times also reports that the Pentagon froze shipments of PAC-3 missiles intended for Patriot air defense systems bound for Ukraine, further limiting the flow of U.S. military aid.