Trump says Ukraine war depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles, but as Iran takes that mantle, Kyiv sees opportunities

Kyiv — The White House wants Congress to provide at least $200 billion more in funding for the war in Iran, and President Trump says that's partly due to aid for Ukraine having depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles as it fends off Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion.  In:

Kyiv — The White House wants Congress to provide at least $200 billion more in funding for the war in Iran, and President Trump says that's partly due to aid for Ukraine having depleted U.S. weapons stockpiles as it fends off Russia's ongoing full-scale invasion. 

"This is a very volatile world," Mr. Trump said Thursday. "We want to have vast amounts of ammunition, which we have right now — we have a lot of ammunition, but it was taken down by giving so much to Ukraine."

Throughout his second term, Mr. Trump has criticized the Biden administration for, in his view, providing armaments to Ukraine that America's defense industry could not quickly replenish. 

Last summer, after a review of stockpiles, the U.S. paused the shipment of some weapons to Ukraine. Those weapons transfers were eventually reinstated under a new initiative that sees NATO allies foot much of the bill, but the episode made it clear the White House considers support for Ukraine's defense an obstacle to ensuring America's own defensive stockpiles remain up to the demands of any future conflict. 

Now, however, Ukraine is offering reasons to reassess that viewpoint. As the war in Iran depletes U.S. stocks of interceptor missiles, Ukrainian officials are offering deals to help replenish them. On Saturday, Ukrainian officials met Trump administration representatives to discuss, among other topics, a deal for the two countries to co-produce drones and drone interceptors.