File photo: US President Donald Trump with Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
The Pentagon is considering whether to divert some weapons originally intended for Ukraine to the Middle East as the war in Iran puts pressure on US stockpiles of key munitions, The Washington Post reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
Air defence interceptors among weapons under review
According to the report, the weapons that could be redirected include air defence interceptor missiles ordered through a Nato-backed programme launched last year, under which partner countries purchase US-made arms for Kyiv.
The report said no final decision has been taken, but such a move would underline the trade-offs Washington is facing as it tries to sustain military operations in the Middle East while continuing support for Ukraine.
Nato ’s PURL programme seen as possible pressure point
The Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL) initiative was set up last year to keep selected US military equipment flowing to Ukraine even after the Trump administration reduced most of the Pentagon’s direct security assistance to Kyiv.The programme allows partner countries to buy US arms for Ukraine, with European allies taking a larger role in financing and arming Ukrainian forces since Trump returned to office.A Nato official, responding to questions from The Washington Post, did not directly address whether the alliance was aware of concerns over a possible diversion, but said countries “continue to contribute to PURL and equipment is continuously flowing into Ukraine.”The same official said that since last summer, the initiative has supplied 75% of the missiles for Ukraine’s Patriot batteries and nearly all the ammunition used in its other air defence systems, as per The Washington Post.
Pentagon signals priority for US and allies’ operational needs
In a statement cited in the report, a Pentagon spokesperson said the defence department would “ensure that US forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win,” but did not comment further on the internal deliberations.Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States, Olga Stefanishyna, said Kyiv remained in touch with partners over its requirements, including air defence, and understood the “period of considerable uncertainty” during the war, according to The Washington Post.“Any disruptions at the outset of recent operations in the Middle East have been mitigated,” she said.
Iran war driving concerns over US stockpiles
Concerns have intensified as US Central Command has struck more than 10,000 targets in just under four weeks of fighting in Iran. Admiral Brad Cooper, the Central Command chief, said on Wednesday that the US was on track to reduce Tehran’s ability to project power beyond its borders.The report said some of the most heavily used munitions in the conflict include Patriot and THAAD air defence interceptors, which are also critical for Ukraine as it continues to face Russian missile and drone attacks.The US military has already moved such missiles from other theatres, including Europe and East Asia, to US Central Command in the Middle East to strengthen defences against Iranian drone and ballistic missile attacks.One person familiar with the Pentagon’s internal calculations told The Washington Post that PURL deliveries were likely to continue, but future packages may lack some air defence capabilities as the US seeks to rebuild its own stocks and those of allies in the Gulf.“The policy debate is how much you give to Ukraine,” a second person said. “This is a real live discussion.”
Funding questions and possible diversion of Nato money
Separately, the Pentagon informed Congress on Monday that it intended to divert about $750 million in funding provided by Nato countries through the PURL programme to restock US military inventories, instead of sending additional assistance to Ukraine, citing two US officials.It remained unclear whether participating European governments fully understood how that funding was being used.Countries have committed around $4 billion for Ukraine through the programme, according to a US official.The report comes as the war in Iran continues to reshape military and diplomatic calculations globally.US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that a deal to end the Iran war was near, even as Tehran rejected a 15-point US ceasefire proposal and issued its own demands while launching fresh attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab states.Iran’s foreign minister later told state TV, “No negotiations have happened with the enemy until now, and we do not plan on any negotiations.”The fighting has so far killed more than 1,500 people in Iran, nearly 1,100 in Lebanon, 20 in Israel and 13 US military personnel.
