Ukraine says Trump weapons freeze will intensify ‘war and terror’, as Russia hails move

London: Ukraine expects Russia to intensify its bombardment on military and civilian targets after US President Donald Trump halted weapons exports to the country in a move that triggered formal complaints and split Republicans.

The sudden halt is likely to leave Ukraine without enough air defence missiles to intercept Russian attacks, as American officials argue they need to preserve their military stockpiles.

Residents embrace after a Russian missile hit an apartment building in Kyiv, Ukraine, last month.Credit: AP

Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa called an urgent meeting in Kyiv with the top US diplomat to Ukraine, John Ginkel, to thank America for its aid but warn of the danger from the slowdown.

“The Ukrainian side emphasised that any delay or slowing down in supporting Ukraine’s defence capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace,” Betsa said in a statement after the meeting.

“In these circumstances, strengthening Ukraine’s defence capabilities and increasing co-ordinated trans-Atlantic pressure on the aggressor are critically important.”

Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukraine over the past two months, launching a record 5337 drones in June, according to data from Ukraine’s air force.

Moscow welcomed the American decision on weapons.

“The fewer arms supplied to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation will be,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters, using the Russian government’s euphemism for the war.

Amid uncertainty about the details of the weapons being withheld, the American move was being described as a halt, a suspension or a pause in supplies.

In March, Trump suspended weapons shipments in a bid to force Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to terms with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the NATO summit last month.Credit: Getty Images

This second stoppage, first reported by news site Politico, is said to be driven by senior Pentagon official Elbridge Colby, a key advocate for increasing domestic weapons capabilities rather than putting a priority on allies.

Colby is also conducting a snap review of the AUKUS pact with Australia and Britain, raising concerns of a shift in American policy to curtail the transfer of nuclear submarine technology or demand the allies spend more on the deal.

The latest move means Ukraine will go without supplies of PAC-3 missiles for the Patriot air defence system. Zelensky had asked Trump for more Patriot weaponry to shoot down Russian missiles when the two leaders met at the NATO summit in the Netherlands last week.

Also in short supply in Ukraine are precision artillery rounds and Hellfire missiles for F-16 fighter jets.

American assistance to Ukraine was worth €26.8 billion – about $48 billion – in the three months to December, but has collapsed since Trump took office in January, according to the database of military, financial and humanitarian aid compiled by the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.

The respected database recorded less than €1 billion in US assistance in the March quarter.

Europe filled some of the gap by increasing assistance from €9.5 billion to €19.1 billion over the same period, but Ukraine has warned that it cannot defend its citizens from Russian missile attacks without more supplies.

In a statement on Wednesday, the US Department of Defence (DOD) said America had provided Ukraine with nearly $US66 billion ($100 billion) in security assistance since Russia’s invasion in early 2022.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the decision to pause the Ukraine delivery was part of a broader review of where the Pentagon was sending such weapons.

White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly confirmed the new decision to suspend the weapons and said the US was putting a priority on DOD capabilities.

“This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe,” she told reporters.

“The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned – just ask Iran.”

Despite that confirmation, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence appeared unaware of the details of the halt and said it had requested a telephone conversation with American defence officials.

“It is critically important for Ukraine to maintain stability, continuity, and predictability in the provision of co-ordinated defence assistance, primarily in the area of strengthening air defence systems,” the ministry said on the messaging platform Telegram.

“We are grateful to the United States for all its support and highly appreciate the efforts of American partners aimed at achieving genuine peace.

“We emphasise that the path to ending the war lies through consistent and joint pressure on the aggressor, as well as through continued support for Ukraine.”

Some Republicans in Congress warned against the Trump administration’s decision within hours of the move, with Pennsylvania Representative Brian Fitzpatrick telling Politico he would be “aggressively looking into this matter”.

Another Republican, Michael McCaul of Texas, said he was probing the matter “very intensely” because the pause could weaken attempts to get Putin to agree to a peace deal.

With AP

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