Empty Warehouses: U.S. Delays EU Arms Shipments — Ukraine at Risk
17 April 09:36
The United States has begun delaying arms deliveries to its European allies. The reason is the critical depletion of U.S. stockpiles due to the prolonged war with Iran.
This was reported by "Komersant Ukrainian", citing data from Reuters.
The delays concern contracts that were signed and paid for in advance, agency sources say. This involves several countries that occupy strategically important positions on the continent.
The greatest concern is being expressed in the Baltic region and Scandinavia. These are the countries that share a border with Russia, and arms supplies to them are a matter of security. Of course, Europe also has to share weapons with Ukraine, so the delay will negatively affect everyone.
The weapons were purchased under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program—an official mechanism in which the U.S. government acts as an intermediary. But even government guarantees cannot prevent shortages. The U.S. has already informed its allies of the delays.
Depleting stockpiles: from Ukraine to Iran
U.S. arsenals are not limitless, and the war against Iran, which began with massive airstrikes on February 28, became “the last straw.” But the problems began much earlier.
U.S. stockpiles have been gradually dwindling:
- since 2022—due to aid to Ukraine in repelling Russian aggression;
- since late 2023—due to military support for Israel in the Gaza Strip;
- since early 2026—due to direct conflict with Tehran.
A particular shortage is observed in the air defense systems segment. Tehran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf countries, and the U.S. is using PAC-3 Patriot missiles on a massive scale to intercept them. These are precisely the interceptors that Ukraine critically needs to defend against Russian ballistic missiles and that European countries need to deter Russia.
Diplomatic Tensions and Washington’s “Grievances”
Irritation is growing in European capitals, and officials are complaining that the delays are putting them in a difficult position. Some are already calling for a shift toward weapons produced exclusively in Europe.
For years, the U.S. has pressured its NATO partners to buy American-made weapons. Now Washington cannot fulfill its own promises.
White House officials are accusing Europe of passivity. They argue that weapons are needed in the Middle East because Europeans are not helping the U.S. and Israel open the Strait of Hormuz.
What is the situation with the U.S. defense industry and missiles for Ukraine’s air defense?
Due to the large number of orders and domestic needs, Trump is considering the possibility of enlisting automakers to produce weapons. U.S. defense officials are discussing the use of production capacity from General Motors and Ford Motor.
Against the backdrop of the crisis in U.S. arms supplies to Europe, it has been decided to focus efforts on domestic production of necessary ammunition, including to assist Ukraine. According to estimates by the European Commissioner for Defense, Russia continues to produce significantly more weapons than EU countries.
At the same time, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are forced to use their stockpile of missiles for Patriot systems sparingly. Due to the intensity of Russian attacks, the military is forced to conserve ammunition.
Recently, Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine currently faces a critical shortage of Patriot air defense missile systems. Kyiv will have even fewer weapons if the war drags on.
