A verbal order from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth briefly halted 11 arms shipments to Ukraine without presidential approval, exposing cracks in Trump’s early national security process.
Just a week into President Donald Trump’s second term, the U.S. military halted 11 flights carrying weapons to Ukraine. The order, issued verbally from Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth’s office, stopped shipments from Dover Air Force Base and a U.S. base in the UAE.
The pause stunned officials in Kyiv, Warsaw, and Washington. Top national security staff were unaware of the decision, and the White House said the move reflected Trump's position at the time. But according to several sources, Trump gave no instruction to stop aid.
The flights resumed within days, but the confusion underscored deeper dysfunction. TRANSCOM records show the order came after a January 30 Oval Office meeting. Sources say Hegseth may have misunderstood a discussion about using aid as leverage in peace talks.
The incident cost TRANSCOM up to $2.2 million and raised concerns about the chain of command. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz later reversed the decision. He was removed from his post last week and is now expected to be nominated U.S. ambassador to the U.N.
Behind the scenes, Hegseth was reportedly influenced by a group of Pentagon advisers with no prior government experience and anti-interventionist views. Some of those staffers, including Dan Caldwell, were later escorted from the building over alleged security breaches.
The White House maintains that the war is closer to resolution than when Trump took office. But Ukraine, already struggling in the east, was caught off guard by the pause. U.S. and European officials described it to Kyiv as “internal politics.”
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Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, paving the way for stronger bilateral relations.
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U.S. and Chinese officials reported "substantial progress" in tariff negotiations held in Geneva, though specific details remain scarce. A joint statement is expected to be released on Monday.
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Qatar has denied reports of gifting a luxury jet to President Trump for use as Air Force One, stating the matter is still under legal review with no final decision made.
Hamas has released a hostage, identified as Alexander, in what it described as a goodwill gesture toward U.S. President Donald Trump. The confirmation came late Sunday from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in a message to the Associated Press.
U.S. and Chinese officials reported "substantial progress" in tariff negotiations held in Geneva, though specific details remain scarce. A joint statement is expected to be released on Monday.
Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has arrived in Kazakhstan for an official visit, paving the way for stronger bilateral relations.
Eurovision hopefuls hit the turquoise carpet in Basel as Switzerland hosts the song contest for the first time since 1989—setting the stage for a week of music, unity, and glitter.
Qatar has denied reports of gifting a luxury jet to President Trump for use as Air Force One, stating the matter is still under legal review with no final decision made.
Hamas has released a hostage, identified as Alexander, in what it described as a goodwill gesture toward U.S. President Donald Trump. The confirmation came late Sunday from Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in a message to the Associated Press.
U.S. and Chinese officials reported "substantial progress" in tariff negotiations held in Geneva, though specific details remain scarce. A joint statement is expected to be released on Monday.
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