This is reported by Kyiv24
US Defense Secretary Pete Hagset has decided to suspend arms supplies to Ukraine without consulting the administration of President Donald Trump. According to sources, this decision came as a surprise to high-ranking national security officials who were trying to understand the reasons for such a pause and find an explanation for Congress and the Ukrainian government.
Response from the White House and Trump’s Statement
Reportedly, the US President’s special envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, as well as Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio, learned about the suspension of military aid through media reports. This situation surprised officials, as the White House had not been informed about the Defense Secretary’s move.
“I don’t know why you wouldn’t tell me?” was Donald Trump’s response on July 8 to reporters’ questions about who authorized the halt in supplies. Trump emphasized that he does not support the cessation of military aid to Ukraine and stressed that Washington continues to supply defensive weapons to Kyiv.
Reasons and Consequences of Hagset’s Decision
According to sources, the decision to pause was made after Trump instructed Hagset during the NATO summit in June to assess the stockpiles of American weapons. This occurred amid active hostilities between Iran and Israel, as the US president sought to ensure that American troops in the Middle East had enough ammunition for self-defense in case the situation escalated. However, sources emphasize that the president did not order the suspension of arms supplies to Ukraine.
At the same time, sources highlight that Hagset’s independence is partly related to his lack of a chief of staff or advisors who could coordinate such critically important decisions with other government structures.
This is already the second instance in 2025 where Hagset has suspended military assistance to Ukraine. The first time this happened was in February, but that decision was quickly reversed. It is known that on July 1, Western media reported another pause in supplies, but assistance was promptly restored after Trump’s promise to provide Ukraine with additional defensive weapons.