US Decision to Halt Some Arms Shipments Prompts Kyiv Warning Over Weakened Defences

A decision by Washington to halt certain shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine has sparked alarm in Kyiv, which warned on Wednesday that the move risks undermining its ability to defend against intensifying Russian airstrikes and battlefield advances.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry confirmed it had summoned the acting US envoy to Kyiv to express deep concern over the pause in military aid, cautioning that any disruption in support would embolden Russia as it continues its offensive.

“The Ukrainian side emphasised that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine’s defence capabilities will only encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terror, rather than seek peace,” the ministry said in a statement.

The Pentagon’s decision, reportedly linked to concerns over dwindling US military stockpiles, affects a range of high-priority munitions, according to four sources familiar with the matter, speaking to Reuters.

The paused shipments include 30 Patriot air defence missiles — a system Ukraine heavily relies on to intercept fast-moving ballistic threats — nearly 8,500 155mm artillery shells, over 250 precision-guided GMLRS rockets for mobile artillery systems, and 142 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.

The Ukrainian defence ministry noted it had yet to receive official confirmation from Washington and was seeking further clarification.

A Ukrainian government source, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the decision as a “total shock” for Kyiv, which is battling a renewed wave of Russian missile strikes targeting infrastructure and front-line positions.

Washington Downplays Impact

US officials sought to downplay the significance of the decision, insisting that President Donald Trump retains ample options to continue supporting Kyiv militarily.

“The Department of Defence continues to provide the president with robust options regarding military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end,” Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell told reporters.

He emphasised that Washington is “rigorously examining and adapting” its approach to the conflict while balancing US military readiness and defence priorities.

State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce also pushed back on suggestions of a broader shift in policy.

“This is not a cessation of us assisting Ukraine or of providing weapons. This is one event, and one situation, and we’ll discuss what else comes up in the future,” she said.

The decision comes as Ukraine faces mounting pressure on the battlefield and renewed Russian aerial assaults on key cities, underscoring Kyiv’s dependency on Western-supplied advanced weaponry.

Since the outbreak of the war in February 2022, the United States has been Ukraine’s largest military backer, though political debates in Washington over the scope and sustainability of such assistance have increasingly come to the fore.