The Pentagon is evaluating whether to divert military equipment intended for Ukraine to the Middle East as the ongoing war with Iran severely depletes critical US munitions stockpiles, according to three individuals familiar with the discussions.
While a final decision remains pending, the potential shift underscores the mounting strategic trade-offs required to sustain the Iranian conflict, where US Central Command has struck more than 9,000 targets in nearly four weeks of fighting.
The hardware under consideration for diversion includes air defense interceptor missiles ordered through the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List (PURL), a NATO initiative launched last year that enables partner nations to purchase US weaponry for Kyiv, the sources said.
The PURL program has maintained a steady pipeline of select military equipment to Ukraine, bridging the gap after the Trump administration suspended most direct Pentagon security assistance.
A Defense Department spokesperson declined to comment on the specific deliberations but stated the agency would "ensure that US forces and those of our allies and partners have what they need to fight and win."
Ukrainian Ambassador to the US Olga Stefanishyna noted that Kyiv continues to update partners on its defense requirements, particularly regarding air defense, while acknowledging the current "period of considerable uncertainty." She added that any initial disruptions stemming from recent Middle East operations have been mitigated.
A NATO official declined to comment on the potential rerouting of US equipment but confirmed that member nations "continue to contribute to PURL and equipment is continuously flowing into Ukraine." According to the official, the initiative has supplied 75 percent of Ukraine's Patriot interceptors and nearly all of its other air defense ammunition since last summer.
European allies have assumed the primary role in funding and arming Ukraine since President Donald Trump took office. The NATO-brokered PURL agreement provided a mechanism for Ukraine to continue receiving vital US arms funded by European capitals, easing alliance concerns over the administration's push for a negotiated settlement with Russia. A US official indicated that partner nations have committed roughly $4 billion to the program.
However, since the US initiated strikes in Iran on February 28, European officials have grown concerned that Washington's rapid consumption of munitions could delay their own orders and disrupt PURL deliveries to Kyiv. "They are really burning through munitions, so there are questions now about how much they will keep providing through the deal," one European diplomat noted.
Advanced air defense systems, including Patriot and Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) interceptors, remain the most sought-after munitions. The US military has already relocated such assets from Europe and East Asia to bolster Central Command defenses against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks.
Ukraine heavily relies on these exact systems to counter relentless Russian bombardments. While PURL deliveries are expected to continue, future packages may lack critical air defense capabilities as Washington prioritizes restocking its own arsenals and those of Gulf allies. "The policy debate is how much you give to Ukraine," one source said. "This is a real live discussion."
Any diversion of scheduled deliveries would require congressional notification. The Pentagon is currently striving to accelerate munitions production, though the US defense industrial base faces capacity limits. In response, the Trump administration is drafting a supplemental defense budget request that initially exceeded $200 billion.
In a related development, the Pentagon notified Congress on Monday of its intent to redirect approximately $750 million in NATO-provided PURL funds to replenish US military inventories rather than supplying additional aid to Ukraine, according to two US officials. It remains unclear whether European contributors are fully aware of this reallocation.
Furthermore, defense officials recently utilized European PURL funds to cover capabilities that Congress intended to finance through the separate Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a program the Pentagon previously sought to cut. A US official stated it was uncertain if the PURL funds were used to supplement or replace the $400 million in USAI funding approved by Congress in January.