US Halts Arms Sales to Allies Amid Iran War Strain
President Donald Trump announced Thursday that the United States will seek repayment from European nations for military aid and munitions previously sent to Ukraine, while signaling a temporary halt to arms sales to allies as the US rebuilds its own stockpiles amid the separate war with Iran, as reported by Reuters.
In a social media post, Trump criticized reports of heavily depleted US munition reserves, saying Washington is now prioritizing its own needs. “We are taking them for ourselves, the USA, rather than selling them to others, but the sales to Allies will soon again begin,” he wrote.
Trump blamed the Biden administration for giving “hundreds of billions of dollars” to Ukraine and NATO free of charge, money he said Europe should have paid. “We will be asking for that money, though somewhat belatedly!” he added. Last year, the US and NATO launched the Prioritised Ukraine Requirements List, under which European countries fund US weapons deliveries to Kyiv.
The announcement comes as Reuters reported last month that the US Army has used up much of its stockpile of long-range precision missiles during the Iran war, raising concerns about readiness for future conflicts. Both the Ukraine and Iran wars and their economic fallout could affect whether Republicans keep control of Congress next year.
Oil prices hit six-week highs Thursday as fresh US strikes on Iran and renewed Israeli threats against Tehran revived fears of supply disruptions, with vessels still constrained in the Strait of Hormuz. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent partly blamed Kyiv’s recent strikes on Russian energy sites for pushing prices higher, citing an “energy shock” from both conflicts.
Trump’s remarks came as Russian drones pounded central Kyiv for a seventh straight day, wounding 11 and damaging homes and a university. About 160 people sought shelter during the daytime attack, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, criticizing what he called an insufficient international response to Russia’s escalation. Dozens of civilians have been killed in the capital and surrounding areas as air defenses struggle to intercept waves of jet powered drones.
