
US stops delivery of certain weapons to Ukraine
02 Jul 2025 11:28am
This handout photograph taken and released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on June 29, 2025, shows firefighters working at a site of a Russian attack in the city of Smila, Cherkasy region amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. (Photo by Handout / Ukrainian State Emergency Service / AFP)
WASHINGTON - The United States (US) is halting the delivery of some previously promised weapons to Ukraine, including missiles and ammunition, on concerns that the US does not have enough, German Press Agency (dpa) reported.
The website Politico and broadcaster NBC News reported on Tuesday, citing individuals familiar with the matter including defence officials and members of the US Congress, that a review of stockpiles had been conducted beforehand. This handout picture taken and released by Ukrainian presidential press-service on June 28, 2025 shows Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (C), his wife Olena Zelenska (L) and Poland's President Andrzej Duda walking to lay flowers to the Memorial Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine in the Russian-Ukrainian War outside Saint Michael's Golden-domes Cathedral in Kyiv. (Photo by Handout / Ukrainian Presidential Press-Service / AFP)
The White House did not confirm any details when asked.
The weapons in question include missiles for Patriot air defence systems, precision artillery rounds, Hellfire and other missiles that Ukraine launches from its F-16 fighters, and drones, according to the reports.
However, deputy White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said in a statement that "this decision was made to prioritise America's interests after the Department of Defence reviewed our nation's military support and assistance to other countries around the world."
Kelly said the strength of the US armed forces remains unquestioned.
The US Department of Defence did not immediately comment when approached.
The weapons in question were reportedly promised to Ukraine under US President Donald Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden.
Ukraine has been defending itself against a full-scale Russian attack for more than three years. In recent weeks, Russia has significantly intensified its attacks on its neighbour. - BERNAMA-dpa
More Like This
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Star
2 hours ago
- The Star
Trump, Zelenskiy discuss weapons, escalating Russian strikes
An explosion of a drone lights up the sky over the city during a Russian drone and missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine July 4, 2025. REUTERS/Gleb Garanich KYIV (Reuters) -Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he discussed air defences in a conversation with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday, and agreed to work on increasing Kyiv's capability to "defend the sky" as Russian attacks escalate. He added in his account on Telegram that he discussed joint defence production, as well as joint purchases and investments with the U.S. leader. Ukraine has been asking Washington to sell it more Patriot missiles and systems that it sees as key to defending its cities from intensifying Russian air strikes. A decision by Washington to halt some shipments of weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv that the move would weaken its ability to defend against Russia's airstrikes and battlefield advances. Germany said it is in talks on buying Patriot air defence systems to bridge the gap. The conversation came a day after Trump said he had a disappointing call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Russia pummelled Kyiv with the largest drone attack of the war across the capital, hours after Trump's conversation with Putin on Thursday. Zelenskiy called the attack "deliberately massive and cynical." Trump spoke with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday, according to Spiegel magazine, citing government sources. The two leaders discussed the situation in Ukraine, including strengthening its air defences, as well as trade issues, Spiegel reported on Friday. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Tim Gardner and Max Hunder; Editing by Louise Heavens, Peter Graff and Sharon Singleton)


New Straits Times
3 hours ago
- New Straits Times
PM: Time to reset Southeast Asia–Europe ties on equal terms
PARIS: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in a bold remark called for the need to redefine the terms of engagement between Southeast Asia and Europe, as equals, as co-creators, and as partners in both ties and trade, in a world yearning for balance. While no doubt France and Europe at large have made tremendous progress be it in the area of culture, renewable energy, biodiversity initiatives as well as political philosophy and governance, Southeast Asia also has its own set of achievements, he said. Today, the advancements in Southeast Asia may be gleaned from the trajectory of growth of Asean itself which is no doubt a manifestation of the fruition of Asean economic integration," he said during his lecture entitled: "Southeast Asia and Europe: Recalibrating The Terms of Engagement" at Sorbonne University Paris. Anwar pointed out that the region has tremendously promoted intra-regional trade and investment, enhanced the economic resilience and competitiveness of member countries. Furthermore, there is much to be lauded in terms of Asean's focus on regional diplomacy and cooperation, as a hallmark of its centrality and progressive multilateralism, said Anwar. He said barring the crisis in Myanmar, this has yielded momentous progress in helping to address inter-state tensions, manage conflicts and promote collective decision-making in regional crises. On the other hand, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has not only shaken the continent's sense of security, but also its assumptions - about deterrence, dependence and the durability of peace. "A war many thought impossible became a reckoning that shattered the illusion of permanence and reminded us that even in the heart of Europe, history still breathes. "But we do not forget that while history may liberate, it may also incarcerate. "Hence, Europe finds itself grappling with uncertainty in its oldest alliance. "As debates over military spending and collective resolve unfold, the ballast of the transatlantic compact is being tested in ways not seen for generations. "The European project, conceived to bury war through integration, now finds itself reimagining its defence, its technological sovereignty, and its energy security," said Anwar. On that backdrop, while Southeast Asia welcomes Europe's engagement and the deepening of its presence in the region, including through its growing ties with Asean, it must be done right on equal terms, he said. "We believe this is the right moment for an open and thoughtful conversation about the terms of our partnership – grounded not in hierarchy, but in mutual respect and understanding," he said. Touching on trade, Anwar, who is also the finance minister, stressed that it should be a bridge, not a barrier. "For Southeast Asia and Europe to build a meaningful partnership, our economic engagement must be guided by the same principles we ask of security: respect, flexibility and restraint." He said Southeast Asia fully respects Europe's right to regulate in ways that reflect its values. "But when those regulations shut others out, even unintentionally, we must speak openly about the consequences. "We do not ask for indulgence. We ask only that Europe meet us where we are, not where its models presume we ought to be. "What we seek is not favours, but fairness. Not exemption, but equity," said Anwar. Hence, while Southeast Asia welcomes partnerships with Europe, Anwar was firm in stating that it should be on the basis of mutual respect and equality. The region rejects condescending attitudes, geopolitical containment strategies, and the imposition of external fears onto our region, he added. — Bernama


The Sun
4 hours ago
- The Sun
EU slashes Ukrainian wheat and sugar imports by 70-80% under new quotas
BRUSSELS/PARIS: The European Union will cut imports of Ukrainian wheat and sugar by up to 80% to address the concerns of its farmers, according to quotas announced on Friday, that are likely to drive Ukraine growers to sell more to markets in Asia and Africa. In a show of solidarity following the start of the Ukraine war in 2022, the EU opened up its food markets and temporarily waived duties and quotas. But as farmers across the bloc protested against a flood of cereals, sugar and poultry from Ukraine, Brussels moved to re-introduce the quotas. Traders say Ukraine has defied expectations by continuing to ship large volumes of grain via the Black Sea, but the war shows no sign of ending and Western support has faltered. The United States paused some missile shipments this week. Officials on Friday said Russia had carried out the worst drone attack of the war. The quotas announced on Friday will be higher than those in the first free trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine in force since 2016, but significantly below the volumes imported over the last three years duty-free. They follow a provisional deal reached on Monday and set the annual quota for wheat at 1.3 million metric tons, a 30% rise from pre-war levels of 1 million tons, a senior EU official said on Friday. It represents a drop of 70-80% from the last three seasons, when the EU imported around 4.5 million tons of Ukrainian wheat in the 2024/25 season to June 30, 6.5 million tons in 2023/24 and 6.1 million tons in 2022/23, according to Commission data. The EU set the quota for Ukrainian sugar at 100,000 tons, up from 20,000 tons before the war, but down from quota-free imports of 400,000 tons in 2022/23 and over 500,000 tons in 2023/24. Ukrainian farm lobby UCAB said on Friday the quotas were too low, calling the proposal a 'step back'. They should provide relief for European Union farmers, many of whom have suffered from higher costs and stricter environmental rules and who are also concerned by a planned EU deal with South America's Mercosur bloc. Grain traders say competitively priced Ukrainian wheat should be able to find alternative buyers in North Africa and Asia. For barley, the EU's import quota for Ukraine would rise to 450,000 tons from 350,000 tons. That would be in line with what the EU imported in 2024/25, though only about half of the volumes taken in 2022/23 and 2023/24. For poultry, the import quota was increased to 120,000 tons from 90,000 tons. The revised trade agreement between the EU and Ukraine includes 40 goods and still needs to be adopted by a qualified majority of member states. In addition, the agreement allows for individual EU countries to take further measures to safeguard their markets if they are destabilised by quota volumes, the official said. - Reuters