Trump move allows Pentagon to redirect Ukraine-bound weapons back to US stockpiles — CNN

The Pentagon has changed its policy to allow weapons earmarked for Ukraine to be returned to US stockpiles, potentially diverting billions of dollars in aid to replenish America’s own shrinking arsenals, CNN reported, citing four sources familiar with the directive.

The memorandum, signed last month by Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, permits the return of arms even if they were produced specifically for Ukraine under the congressionally funded Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI).

While no such reallocation has yet occurred, sources told CNN that Kyiv could lose access to US-made weapons worth billions of dollars scheduled for delivery in the coming months and years. It remains unclear whether the $800 million in arms included in the proposed 2026 defense budget will ultimately reach Ukraine, despite Senate approval.

The new Pentagon rules classify US weapon stocks as “red,” “yellow,” or “green,” with “red” and “yellow” categories — such as Patriot interceptor missiles — requiring direct approval from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth for overseas transfer. Last month, Hegseth paused a package that included dozens of Patriot interceptors, but US President Donald Trump ordered him to resume the shipment after learning of the hold, CNN said.