KYIV — Ukrainian officials have warned that a US decision to pause key weapons shipments will encourage Russia to prolong its war on Ukraine, now in its fourth year.
The warning follows a White House announcement on Tuesday that some military aid deliveries would be halted as part of a reassessment of America’s global defence commitments.
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the decision was taken “to put America’s interests first” following a Department of Defense review into the sustainability of US military support to partner nations.
While she did not specify which systems were affected, reports suggest that the suspended shipments may include Patriot missile interceptors, Howitzer shells, missiles, and grenade launchers.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv was “clarifying all the details on supplies” with US counterparts, while Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry cautioned that “any suspension or delay in weapons deliveries would only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace”.
The Ministry particularly emphasized the critical importance of strengthening Ukrainian air defences, as Russian forces continue to launch nightly aerial bombardments using drones and missiles.
This past weekend, Ukraine endured its largest aerial assault since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, with over 500 munitions fired at Ukrainian cities in a matter of hours.
A US diplomat based in Kyiv was summoned to Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday for consultations. However, the Ukrainian Defence Ministry said it had yet to receive any formal notification from Washington about a suspension or revision in military assistance, urging the public and media not to speculate based on “partial or unverified information.”
Nonetheless, the ministry noted that “the road to ending the war lies through consistent and joint pressure on the aggressor.”
The Kremlin, unsurprisingly, welcomed the development. Russian government spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, “The fewer the number of weapons delivered to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation.”
Russia has consistently framed the invasion of Ukraine as a “special operation” aimed at safeguarding Russian-speaking populations and countering Western influence.
Ukrainian MP Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the ruling party, called the move “painful,” especially in the context of recent Russian attacks.
“It’s a very unpleasant situation,” he told local media. A senior Ukrainian military official, speaking anonymously to AFP, added, “We are seriously dependent on American arms supplies. Europe is doing its best, but it will be difficult for us without American ammunition.”
European countries have collectively spent billions on military aid for Ukraine since 2022, but their capacity to match US support remains limited.
In a recent interview with BBC Russian, Czech President and former NATO commander Petr Pavel said future Czech support could not be guaranteed and would depend on the outcome of upcoming national elections. “I don’t know what will be the priorities of a new government,” he remarked.
Pentagon officials, meanwhile, have justified the pause on strategic grounds. A source told CBS News that the move is partly due to dwindling US stockpiles, even as the Pentagon reassures allies that American military readiness remains strong.
“The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran,” spokesperson Anna Kelly said. US Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, Elbridge Colby, insisted that the Pentagon continues to provide President Trump with “robust options” for ongoing support to Ukraine.
However, he acknowledged that the Department is “rigorously examining and adapting” its strategy to ensure that it balances global military responsibilities with domestic readiness.
The pause in shipments comes days after a meeting between President Donald Trump and President Zelensky at the NATO summit in the Netherlands. Trump reportedly told Zelensky that the US would “see if we can make some [Patriot missiles] available,” indicating there may still be room for negotiations.
Referring to his conversation with the Ukrainian leader, Trump added: “We had a little rough times sometimes, but he couldn’t have been nicer.”
The two leaders clashed earlier this year in the Oval Office, where Trump froze military and intelligence aid approved under the Biden administration. That aid was later resumed following backlash from both Congress and international allies.
In April, the US and Ukraine signed a new bilateral agreement granting Washington access to Ukrainian mineral reserves in exchange for continued military support. That deal remains in place, although the White House has not clarified how the recent pause affects its provisions.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts to find a negotiated resolution to the war remain slow and fragile. In a surprise move, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin for over two hours on Tuesday, marking their first official communication in more than two-and-a-half years. According to the Élysée Palace, Macron called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the resumption of peace talks.
The Kremlin claimed that Putin reminded Macron that the West bears responsibility for the war, saying that Western powers “ignored Russia’s security interests for many years.”
In recent public remarks, Putin reiterated his belief that Russians and Ukrainians are “one people,” stating that “in that sense, the whole of Ukraine is ours.” Russian forces currently control about 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea, annexed in 2014.
This week, Moscow claimed full control over the eastern Luhansk region—though this has not been independently verified. Russian officials also announced new territorial gains in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, a claim rejected by Ukraine’s armed forces.
In response, Ukraine has stepped up long-range strikes on Russian territory. On Tuesday, a Ukrainian drone attack killed three people at a Russian arms factory in the city of Izhevsk, more than 1,000 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. The facility reportedly produced drone and radar systems used in attacks on Ukraine.
As Ukraine prepares for another winter of conflict, the stakes for international support—particularly from the United States—have never been higher. The outcome of ongoing talks in Washington could determine not just the course of the war, but the future of Europe’s security architecture.