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Both Marco Rubio and Keith Kellog found out about the pause through media reports.
Apparantly, both Marco Rubio and Keith Kellog found out about the pause through media reports.
US Defense Secretary Quietly Pauses Arms to Ukraine
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth halted a planned shipment of American weapons to Ukraine on July 2—without notifying the White House, according to five sources speaking with the CNN.
Critical Weapons Held Back Mid-Transit
The paused shipment included key military hardware: Patriot interceptor missiles, 155 mm artillery shells, Hellfire and Stinger missiles, as well as AIM air-to-air missiles.
Some of these munitions had already arrived in Poland and were en route to Kyiv when the order came through.
Trump Denies Any Suspension
On July 4, when asked about a potential weapons pause as he prepared to board Air Force One, President Donald Trump flatly denied it.
“We haven’t paused the shipments,” he told reporters. “We’re giving weapons.”
Top Officials Left in the Dark
CNN reported that Hegseth did not consult with Secretary of State Marco Rubio or Keith Kellogg, the US special envoy to Ukraine.
Both reportedly found out about the pause through media reports, sparking confusion and frustration in diplomatic circles.
Pentagon Policy Chief Behind the Push
The pause was reportedly inspired by Elbridge Colby, Undersecretary of Defense for Policy and a long-standing skeptic of broad military aid to Ukraine.
His recommendation was greenlit by Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg before Hegseth signed off.
A Move Aligned with “America First”
Lacking a chief of staff or senior advisers, Hegseth is said to have acted independently, viewing the decision as consistent with Trump’s “America First” agenda.
Sources told CNN that the Pentagon’s internal dynamics played a significant role in the move.
White House Attempts to Reframe Decision
Press secretary Karoline Leavitt told CNN the pause was part of a routine Pentagon review to ensure foreign aid aligns with US interests.
She added that President Trump had since ordered a resumption and maintained full confidence in Hegseth.
Pause Coincided with Deadly Russian Attacks
The shipment freeze came just before one of the most intense Russian missile barrages of the year.
On July 4, Russian strikes in Kyiv killed at least two and wounded 23. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reiterated calls for more air defense, praising US-supplied Patriots as “real defenders of life.”
Military Readiness Not Threatened, Critics Say
Despite suggestions the delay was needed to protect US stockpiles, a military review found the shipment wouldn’t harm American readiness.
Rep. Adam Smith, top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee, called the justification “disingenuous.”
Trump Reverses Course After Zelensky Call
Trump reportedly reversed the pause after learning of it, ordering Hegseth to resume at least part of the shipment, including the Patriot systems.
In a July 4 call with Zelensky, Trump minimized his involvement. Zelensky later called it “the best conversation in all this time.”
