Trump White House blindsided after Pete Hegseth abruptly canceled Ukraine weapons shipments: report

Summary

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth ordered the sudden cancellation of 11 U.S. weapons flights to Ukraine in February without Trump’s knowledge, blindsiding the White House, Pentagon, and State Department, Reuters reported.

The verbal order, originating from Hegseth’s office, caused confusion in Kyiv and Warsaw.

Internal records suggest Trump never explicitly directed a halt in aid during a Jan. 30 meeting, raising concerns about Hegseth’s interpretation.

The flights resumed days later after National Security Adviser Mike Waltz intervened. TRANSCOM reported the cancellations cost $1.6 million.