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First Post
4 days ago
- Politics
- First Post
‘America can fight an 8-day war, then… nuclear': Ex-Pentagon adviser says US must stop sending weapons abroad
Ex-Pentagon adviser Douglas Macgregor warns the US has only eight days' worth of missile stockpiles, suggesting America may be forced to rely on nuclear options if drawn into a prolonged war. read more A former Pentagon adviser has issued a stark warning about the state of America's military readiness, claiming the United States has only enough offensive and defensive missiles to sustain combat for eight days before facing the prospect of resorting to nuclear weapons. Retired Colonel Douglas Macgregor, who served as a senior adviser to the Secretary of Defence during the Trump administration, made the alarming claim in a post on X (formerly Twitter), urging the US to immediately halt the export of weapons abroad. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD America needs to stop sending weapons abroad. Very reliable sources tell me we have roughly 8 days of offensive and defensive missiles on hand and readily available. Translation, we can fight an 8 days war and then we would have to go nuclear. — Douglas Macgregor (@DougAMacgregor) July 18, 2025 The comments come amid renewed concerns over America's depleting military stockpiles, particularly in light of its continued military aid to Ukraine. Just days before Macgregor's post, President Donald Trump announced a major new shipment of American weapons to Kyiv in a reversal of his earlier calls for restraint on military support. Trump's move was welcomed by Ukrainian officials, who hailed it as a vital lifeline in their ongoing defence against Russian aggression. However, analysts have raised concerns about whether the scale of US military assistance is sustainable given the strain on domestic reserves. Reports in recent months have pointed to the Pentagon's difficulty in replenishing high-grade weapons systems and munitions after years of support for Ukraine. The US military has already acknowledged that some key arms deliveries including long-range missiles, Patriot interceptors and 155mm shells are facing production bottlenecks and supply delays. Macgregor's remarks have amplified calls within conservative circles to reassess America's foreign military commitments. Critics argue that continued exports are risking the country's ability to respond to a future major conflict involving peer adversaries. The issue is further complicated by growing tensions with Russia, which has strongly criticised Western arms shipments to Ukraine. Moscow has accused Ukrainian forces of using long-range weapons supplied by the US and its allies to strike civilian areas on Russian territory, alleging that these actions sabotage peace efforts. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously warned that the deployment of such systems could fundamentally alter the character of the conflict. 'We will make the necessary decisions based on the threats we face,' Putin said recently, suggesting that the Kremlin could reconsider its military calculus if NATO countries are perceived to be directly involved in the war. As the Biden administration and Trump's political team contend with domestic and international pressure, questions remain about whether Washington can balance global military commitments with national defence readiness.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Trump expected to deliver weapons to Ukraine through Nato allies
Donald Trump appears poised to deliver weapons to Ukraine by selling them first to Nato allies in a major policy shift for his administration amid frustrations with Vladimir Putin over stalling negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. During an interview with NBC News, Trump said he will probably have a 'major announcement' on Russia on Monday and confirmed he had struck a deal with Nato leaders to supply weapons to Ukraine. Trump's Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, is scheduled to arrive in Kyiv on the same day for a week-long trip that comes after the US temporarily halted weapons shipments to Ukraine as part of a Pentagon review of dwindling stockpiles of crucial munitions including Patriot air defense missiles. Related: Zelenskyy urges west to hit Russia with sanctions after huge attack on Kyiv The White House has now sought to distance itself from the decision, and Trump has suggested he is ready to greenlight a major military aid package for Ukraine via Nato, reversing a previous policy of reducing support to the Ukrainian government to force Kyiv to sue for peace. 'I think I'll have a major statement to make on Russia on Monday,' Trump said during the interview with NBC News, which aired on Thursday evening. 'I'm disappointed in Russia, but we'll see what happens over the next couple of weeks.' During the interview, Trump laid out a plan by which the US could sell weapons to Nato and then they could be sent on to Ukraine. Trump has not previously approved packages of military aid to Ukraine. 'So what we're doing is the weapons that are going out are going to Nato, and then Nato is going to be giving those weapons [to Ukraine], and Nato is paying for those weapons,' Trump said, probably indicating that they would be purchased by countries that are members of the Nato security bloc. Administration officials have said this would be different from the US supplying Ukraine directly, as Nato and not Washington would be making the decision to arm Kyiv. Germany and other member states of the security bloc had spoken publicly about ongoing negotiations to purchase weapons from the United States to transfer to Ukraine. Ukraine is producing more modern weaponry including drones, but still relies on the US to supply everything from Patriot missiles to defend from nightly Russian missile and drone attacks, Himars long-range missiles to strike behind Russian lines, 155mm artillery shells and other munitions. The Axios news website said that some officials had said the US would only sell Ukraine 'defensive' weapons, while others said the package could also include 'offensive' weapons such as the Himars missiles. Yet a key stumbling block remains US military production. The US only has about 25% of the Patriot missile interceptors it needs for all of the Pentagon's military plans, the Guardian revealed this month, and fulfilling new orders can take years depending on the priority level given to the contract. Kellogg is expected to address the US weapons shipments during his visit to Kyiv, the first since shortly after Trump's inauguration. During the interview, Trump also endorsed the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, a bill introduced by Senator Lindsey Graham, a Trump ally seen as a leader of Russia hawks in the legislature. Graham has said that the bill would impose 'bone-breaking sanctions' on Putin and a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil and other goods, potentially targeting China and India. Congressional insiders have told the Guardian that there is strong support for Ukraine in both the House of Representatives and the Senate but that they would require Trump's political backing in order to pass the bill. 'They're going to pass a very major and very biting sanctions bill, but it's up to the president as to whether or not he wants to exercise it,' Trump said during the interview, his first explicit endorsement of the bill. Experts have said that the bill would give Trump new methods to target Russia, but that he could also tighten enforcement or issue other sanctions unilaterally without waiting for authorization from Congress. Trump has said in the past that he admires Putin but he increasingly has vented frustration over the lack of progress in peace talks and the continued airstrikes against Ukrainian cities. On Wednesday night, Russia launched almost 400 Shahed drones and decoys, as well as ballistic and cruise missiles, in strikes against Kyiv that killed two and caused fires across the Ukrainian capital. 'We get a lot of bullshit thrown at us by Putin, if you want to know the truth,' Trump said during a cabinet meeting this week. 'He's very nice all the time, but it turns out to be meaningless.'
Perth Now
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Russia pounds Kyiv with more missiles and drones
Russia has pounded Ukraine's capital with another major missile and drone attack, causing fires in areas across the city and killing two people a day after the heaviest aerial attack of the three-year war so far. "These people were killed by the Russians. This is a terrible loss. My condolences to their families and loved ones," said Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv Regional Administration. He said at least 13 people were injured overnight and into Thursday, and there were fires in at least five other districts at residential buildings, cars, warehouses, office and other non-residential structures. In a post on the Telegram messaging app, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said rescue workers were working at a residential building in Shevchenkivskyi District after falling debris caused a fire on the top floor of an apartment building. He said three of the injured had shrapnel wounds. Karyna Holf, 23, was in the living room near the window when she heard a whistling sound from the incoming weapon. Moment later, little was left of the room but debris. "After such a shock, when you know from your own experience what it's like to lose everything," she said. "I don't even know what comes next. All I have now is a backpack, a phone, a winter coat - that's it. This is my whole life now." Holf said she was grateful to have her parents to turn to, but added, "There are people who have no one at all." Russia has recently sought to overwhelm Ukraine's air defences with major attacks that include increasing numbers of decoy drones. The previous night, it fired more than 700 attack and decoy drones, topping previous nightly barrages for the third time in two weeks. More people are seeking shelter during attacks, spending nights in metro stations and underground car parks. One Kyiv station worker said more than 1000 people, including 70 children, took refuge there overnight as Russian strikes intensified. US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he was "not happy" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has not budged from his ceasefire and peace demands since Trump took office in January and began to push for a settlement. Trump said on Monday that the US would have to send more weapons to Ukraine, just days after Washington paused critical weapons deliveries to Kyiv. On Wednesday, the US resumed deliveries of certain weapons, including 155mm munitions and precision-guided rockets known as GMLRS, two US officials told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity so they could provide details that have not been announced publicly. It's unclear exactly when the weapons started moving.
The Advertiser
10-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
US delivering some weapons to Ukraine after pause
The United States is delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, days after President Donald Trump's administration had halted shipments of some critical weapons to Kyiv. The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday. Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine. The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration. Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight. The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. The United States is delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, days after President Donald Trump's administration had halted shipments of some critical weapons to Kyiv. The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday. Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine. The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration. Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight. The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. The United States is delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, days after President Donald Trump's administration had halted shipments of some critical weapons to Kyiv. The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday. Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine. The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration. Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight. The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time. The United States is delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, days after President Donald Trump's administration had halted shipments of some critical weapons to Kyiv. The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday. Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances. The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine. The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration. Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight. The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram. Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television. Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks. The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement. Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday. Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace". But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives". Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine. The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion. The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted. It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together. Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18. The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine. US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time.
Politico
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Politico
Halted military aid for Ukraine may start flowing again
Trump discussed the aid pause on a call Friday with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy, and also addressed a potential ceasefire agreement with Russia. The Ukrainian president said it was 'probably the best conversation we have had during this whole time, the most productive.' That call came a day after Trump spoke with Putin, a conversation the president indicated did not go well. He was 'very unhappy' with the Putin call , he told reporters over the weekend. 'It just seems like he wants to go all the way and just keep killing people. It's not good. I wasn't happy with it.' In contrast, he indicated that the call with Zelenskyy was more productive, and suggested that more weapons could soon be on the way. When asked about supplying more Patriot air defense missiles to Ukraine — which were stopped under orders from the Pentagon — Trump replied, 'Yeah, we might … they're going to need something because they're being hit pretty hard.' On Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt indicated that the aid stoppage wasn't permanent, portraying it as 'a pause, to review, to ensure that everything the Pentagon is pushing out there is in the best interests of our military and our men and women in uniform.' Some of the weapons denied to Ukraine included 8,400 155mm artillery rounds, 142 Hellfire missiles, and 252 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System missiles, which can precisely hit targets up to 50 miles away. Most significantly, the halted shipment also included 30 Patriot missiles used for shooting down Russian missiles and drones, which have been pounding apartment buildings and other civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. 'The air defense munitions — the Patriots — are obviously the big one because Russia is producing so many UAVs that are becoming harder to hit with Ukraine's mobile air defenses,' said Rob Lee, who studies the Russia-Ukraine war for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. 'Russia is actually targeting the defense industry, and sometimes they have success and they destroy factories, so providing air defense systems is important because it also helps Ukraine produce its own munitions so it can sustain the fight itself,' Lee added. The stepped-up Russian attacks killed at least 11 civilians and injured more than 80 others, including children, Ukrainian officials said Monday. Over the past week, Russia launched at least 1,270 drones, 39 missiles and 1,000 glide bombs at different areas of Ukraine, Zelenskyy said Monday. Eli Stoklos contributed reporting.
