Pentagon disarray: Ukraine arms halted without Trump's nod

At the beginning of the year, Hegseth, the new head of the Pentagon, made the decision to halt arms deliveries to Ukraine without informing President Donald Trump. According to Reuters, this decision followed a meeting in the Oval Office where the situation in Ukraine was discussed, although no formal decisions were reached.

As a result of Hegseth's decision, 11 flights carrying arms and ammunition from bases in Delaware and Qatar were canceled, costing the Pentagon over $2 million. Although the precise timing of the order is unknown, its effects were immediate and noticeable.

The arms deliveries resumed after Mike Waltz, a former national security advisor, intervened upon learning about the situation from Pentagon officials. Recently dismissed from the White House, Waltz played a key role in reinstating the transports.

Hegseth's decision caused concern in Kyiv, where there were fears about the continuation of military support. Ukrainians were informed that the disruption in deliveries resulted from "internal policy." Some sources claim that Hegseth misinterpreted the discussion outcomes at the White House.

Reuters highlights the chaos in the Defense Department under Hegseth's leadership and his inexperienced associates. Among the advisors to the head of the Pentagon, there are individuals lobbying for reduced support for Ukraine, further complicating the situation.

Military aid to Ukraine was halted again for a week in March following an argument between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Trump, as well as Vice President J.D. Vance. Since then, deliveries have continued but only include arms approved by President Joe Biden.

The White House did not directly comment on Reuters' reports but did not deny them either. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt emphasized that negotiations regarding the end of the Russian-Ukrainian war are complex and will not be discussed in detail publicly.