Bipartisan Applause Greets Resumption of US Military Aid to Ukraine

Lawmakers from both parties praised Trump’s decision to resume weapons shipments to Ukraine, ending a pause that had alarmed officials in Kyiv and surprised many in Congress. The announcement came directly from President Donald Trump, who said the United States would once again provide mostly defensive weapons to help Ukraine protect itself against Russia’s continued aggression.

The Pentagon paused the shipments on July 2 as part of a broader capability review of U.S. munitions stockpiles. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said the pause was part of a ‘capability review’ to ensure U.S. military aid aligns with core defense priorities. However, Parnell did not specify exactly which weapons were held back or when the review began.

The delay in support came at a particularly tense moment. Just last week, Russian forces unleashed one of the largest air assaults of the war so far, targeting Kyiv in an hours-long drone attack. Many in Congress viewed this as proof that halting assistance could cost lives. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, said the pause carried a “tragic human cost,” pointing to the deaths and injuries suffered during the strikes.

The reversal drew a wave of bipartisan support. Senator Mitch McConnell, a Republican from Kentucky, urged President Trump to reject advice from those inside the administration who want to limit shipments only to defensive weapons or slow deliveries due to concerns over shrinking stockpiles. He argued that if the United States wants to maintain credibility and deter further Russian aggression, aid must continue uninterrupted.

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers echoed that sentiment, calling this the wrong time to hold back on defensive assistance. He warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin had already ignored multiple chances to pursue peace and was unlikely to change course unless Ukraine remained strong enough to resist.

At the same time, more than 50 House lawmakers, led by Representative Eugene Vindman of Virginia, requested a classified briefing to understand how the Pentagon reviews U.S. munitions supplies. They emphasized the need to invest more heavily in America’s defense industrial base to replenish stocks while still supporting allies.

While the U.S. will resume aid to Ukraine, Pentagon officials confirmed that the capability review of global weapons shipments will remain ongoing.