Pentagon mulling diverting Ukraine defense aid to the Middle East: Report

The Pentagon is contemplating diverting weapons meant for Ukraine to the Middle East as the U.S. military has blown through critical munitions in its war against Iran, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

The lethal aid could include air defense interceptor missiles ordered through a new NATO program, the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative, through which partner countries buy U.S. weapons for Ukraine to aid in its war with Russia, three people familiar with discussions told the outlet.

Asked about the considered diversion Thursday, President Trump seemed to confirm the report, telling reporters: “We do that all the time.”

“We have tremendous amounts of ammunition, we have them in other countries … and we take, sometimes we take from one and we use for another,” Trump said during a Cabinet meeting at the White House. 

Though not yet decided, such a move would spotlight the mounting toll the Iran war is taking on Washington’s munitions stockpiles; American forces have struck more than 10,000 targets since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

In a statement to The Hill, a Pentagon spokesperson asserted that America’s military remains the most powerful in the world and “will ensure that U.S. forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win.”

They declined to comment on any specific allied or partner requirements or ongoing efforts to support them, citing operational security reasons.

The idea has already alarmed European foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, who warned Washington should not break its promises to Ukraine and divert critical air defenses while civilians are being killed.

“It’s definitely important that those promises that have been given to Ukraine regarding their weapons and their defenses that they so desperately need are delivered to them,” she said on MS NOW. “The Russians are really targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure. … We can’t let Ukraine slip off the table.”

The Pentagon spokesperson said the Defense Department would “ensure that U.S. forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win” but declined to otherwise comment.

The Trump administration has already halted most of its weapons assistance to Ukraine after a surge of help under the Biden administration. 

Most of Kyiv’s military support now comes from other European countries, but the embattled nation is still getting key U.S. equipment through PURL, including air defense interceptors and high-end munitions. About $4 billion has been committed for Ukraine through the initiative, a U.S. official told the Post.

Ukraine wouldn’t start to see the effects of a weapons diversion until a month or two has passed, as some weapons shipments are already in the pipeline, a European official said to the outlet.

The Pentagon has looked to quickly increase production of critical munitions since the war in Iran began, with the White House expected to ask Congress for $200 billion in supplemental funding for its military campaign.

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