US Resumes Arms Shipments to Ukraine Amidst Recent Aid Suspension
The United States has restarted shipments of 155mm artillery shells and precision-guided GMLRS rockets to Ukraine, following a brief suspension of aid by former President Donald Trump’s administration last week, reports 24brussels.
According to two American officials speaking to Reuters, the US had previously halted the delivery of 30 Patriot missiles, 8,500 155mm shells, over 250 GMLRS rockets, and 142 Hellfire air-to-ground missiles.
AP reports that 155mm artillery shells have become one of the most frequently used munitions in the conflict. Each shell weighs approximately 45 kg and is over half a meter in length, effectively used in howitzers capable of striking targets at ranges of 24–32 km.
Since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, the United States has supplied Ukraine with more than 3 million artillery shells of this caliber. The total volume of military assistance from Washington during this period has exceeded $67 billion.
It remains unclear whether shipments of Patriot missiles, valued at around $4 million each, will be renewed. These missiles are in high demand and were recently deployed to protect a major American airbase in Qatar after Iranian strikes in retaliation for US attacks on its nuclear infrastructure.
Moreover, Axios reports that Trump has pledged to promptly send 10 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine. He also suggested that Germany provide one of its Patriot batteries to Kyiv, with the US and European partners covering part of the acquisition costs.
