Washington, D.C. — Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) led a group of 54 bipartisan lawmakers sent a letter to Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby, expressing grave concern over the Department of Defense’s (DoD) recent decision to halt shipments of vital munitions to Ukraine.
The paused shipments include critical weapon systems such as Patriot air-defense interceptors, air-to-air and air-to-ground missiles, artillery rounds, surface-to-surface rockets, and Stinger missiles. The decision reportedly stems from an internal review of U.S. munitions stockpiles currently overseen by Undersecretary Colby.
“We write out of concern about the recent announcement that the Department of Defense had decided to halt shipments of munitions to Ukraine. These weapons included Patriot air-defense interceptors, air-to-air missiles, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, surface-to-surface rockets, artillery rounds, and Stinger surface-to-air missiles. It was publicly reported that this decision stemmed from a review you have overseen of DoD’s munitions stockpiles,” said Vindman and his colleagues. “Given the urgent battlefield needs in Ukraine and the broader strategic consequences of a Russian victory, we respectfully urge you to reverse this decision and resume these vital shipments without delay.”
The lawmakers continued, “These shipments will ensure that Ukraine can survive against Russian bombardment and aggression over the next several months and increase the pressure on President Putin to negotiate a peace that is acceptable for Ukraine, NATO, and the United States. The stated objective of this administration, to bring a negotiated peace, can only be achieved through pressure on Russia.”
Read their full letter below.
—
Dear Undersecretary Colby,
We write out of concern about the recent announcement that the Department of Defense had decided to halt shipments of munitions to Ukraine. These weapons included Patriot air-defense interceptors, air-to-air missiles, Hellfire air-to-ground missiles, surface-to-surface rockets, artillery rounds, and Stinger surface-to-air missiles. It was publicly reported that this decision stemmed from a review you have overseen of DoD’s munitions stockpiles. Given the urgent battlefield needs in Ukraine and the broader strategic consequences of a Russian victory, we respectfully urge you to reverse this decision and resume these vital shipments without delay.
Like you, we agree that China is America’s only near-peer adversary and that ensuring that the United States is prepared to deter and, if necessary, defeat China remains a paramount concern in the near and long term. We look forward to working with you on this goal. The threat China poses is bolstered by its increasing cooperation with Russia and others. If Russia wins in Ukraine, it would deepen the strategic challenge posed by the Russia-China partnership. In fact, Russia would have the capacity to make its substantial Defense Industrial Base (DIB) available to China in an Indo-Pacific conflict. Thus, part of deterring China necessitates Ukraine prevailing. This is simply maintaining advantage by subtraction.
While we appreciate the need to review our stockpiles, and in recognition that these stockpiles have shrunk in recent years as the United States justly supplied its allies across the globe to advance American interests, we believe the answer to depleted stocks is a laser focus on ramping up our own DIB. We also look forward to working closely with you on this. Doing so is one of the most powerful tools we have to deter China today. No doubt, in any Pacific contingency— long or short—the United States will need substantial reserves of missiles and artillery—this is to say nothing of the small and cheap drones we must produce.
We urge you to reverse the decision to halt the munitions shipments to Ukraine. These shipments will ensure that Ukraine can survive against Russian bombardment and aggression over the next several months and increase the pressure on President Putin to negotiate a peace that is acceptable for Ukraine, NATO, and the United States. The stated objective of this administration, to bring a negotiated peace, can only be achieved through pressure on Russia.
Finally, please respond by July 10, 2025 to the following:
- Provide a classified briefing for Members on the munitions stockpiles of the United States.
- This briefing should include a description of the review process you undertook of these stockpiles.
- How can the United States accelerate and bolster its DIB so that we are both prepared to deter China and continue to reinforce allies like Ukraine?
- What impact will the hold on these weapons shipments have on Ukraine?
- Did DoD pause munitions shipments to any other locations?
Thank you for your consideration and we look forward to hearing from you.
###