Intel Officers, Analysts Urge Stronger Tracking Of Weapons To Ukraine

U.S. officials fear weapons sent to Ukraine could fall into the wrong hands.

Before the U.S. sent Ukraine the first pallet of what would become about $8 billion in weapons and military equipment, officials had high level discussions about whether these arms could fall into the wrong hands. Three government sources familiar with the transfers now tell Newsy that although they support Ukraine's defense, that fear remains. 

One source said U.S. officials calculated that Ukraine needs the weapons so urgently, it reduces the risk of stockpiles being misused. But analyst Elias Yousif says weapons tend to outlive wars, even long ones. 

Yousif is a conventional defense research analyst at Stimson Center.