US won't send some weapons pledged to Ukraine following a Pentagon review of military assistance
The munitions were previously promised to Ukraine for use during its ongoing war with Russia under the Biden administration. But the pause reflects a new set of priorities under President Donald Trump.
'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,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. 'The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.'
The Pentagon review determined that stocks were too low on some items previously pledged, so pending shipments of some items won't be sent, according to a U.S. official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide information that has not yet been made public.
To date, the U.S. has provided Ukraine more than $66 billion worth of weapons and military assistance since Russia invaded in February 2022.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
10 minutes ago
- The Independent
Russia becomes first country to recognise Taliban's rule in Afghanistan
Russia has become the first nation to formally recognise the Taliban government in Afghanistan since the group seized power in 2021, following Moscow's decision to remove the organisation from its list of outlawed entities. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed it had accepted credentials from Afghanistan's newly appointed Ambassador, Gul Hassan Hassan. The ministry stated that this official recognition would foster "productive bilateral cooperation". Afghanistan's Foreign Ministry hailed the development as a "historic step". Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi was quoted welcoming the decision as "a good example for other countries." The Taliban assumed control of Afghanistan in August 2021 following the withdrawal of US and NATO forces. Since then, the group has sought international recognition while imposing its strict interpretation of Islamic law. While no country had formally recognized the Taliban administration until now, the group had engaged in high-level talks with many nations and established some diplomatic ties with countries including China and the United Arab Emirates. Still, the Taliban government has been relatively isolated on the world stage, largely over its restrictions on women. Although the Taliban initially promised a more moderate rule than during their first stint in power from 1996 to 2001, it started to enforce restrictions on women and girls soon after the 2021 takeover. Women are barred from most jobs and public places, including parks, baths and gyms, while girls are banned from education beyond sixth grade. Russian officials have recently been emphasizing the need to engage with the Taliban to help stabilize Afghanistan, and lifted a ban on the Taliban in April. Russia 's ambassador to Afghanistan, Dmitry Zhirnov, said in remarks broadcast by state Channel One television that the decision to officially recognize the Taliban government was made by President Vladimir Putin on advice from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Zhirnov said the decision proves Russia's 'sincere striving for the development of full-fledged relations with Afghanistan.'
Reuters
13 minutes ago
- Reuters
German industrial orders fall 1.4% in May
July 4 (Reuters) - German industrial orders fell much more than expected in May due to a one-off effect, official data showed on Friday. Orders declined by 1.4% on the previous month on a seasonally and calendar adjusted basis. A Reuters poll of analysts had pointed to a fall of 0.1%. The slump was primarily due to the substantial decline of 17.7% month-on-month in orders in the computer, electronic and optical products sector, where several large-scale orders were recorded in April. Furthermore, strong decreases were also observed in the electrical equipment and basic metals sectors. Foreign orders rose by 2.9% on the month, with orders from the euro zone decreasing by 6.5% and orders from outside the euro area increasing by 9.0%. Domestic orders fell by 7.8% on the month, the statistics office said. The less volatile three-month on three-month comparison showed that new orders in the period from March to May were 2.1% higher than in the previous three months.
Reuters
19 minutes ago
- Reuters
Air France-KLM to take majority stake in Scandinavian airline SAS
PARIS, July 4 (Reuters) - Air France-KLM ( opens new tab said on Friday it plans to increase its stake in Scandinavian airline SAS to 60.5%, up from 19.9% currently, by acquiring the stakes held by top shareholder Castlelake and Lind Invest. The purchase, subject to obtaining the necessary regulatory clearances, is expected to close in the second half of 2026, Air France-KLM said. The value of the investment would be determined at closing, based on SAS's latest financial performance, including EBITDA and net debt, added the company. The Scandinavian airline welcomed the announcement, calling it a "defining moment" that marked Air-France KLM's commitment to strengthen SAS. "It brings not just stability but will also allow for deeper industrial integration and the full backing of one of the world's leading airline groups," SAS CEO Anko van der Werff said. "Together, we will be better positioned to deliver greater value to our customers, our colleagues, and the wider region." SAS said it would continue to invest in its fleet and network. Air France-KLM CEO Ben Smith told Reuters in March that the company was looking to raise its stake in SAS, as the carrier was meeting the necessary milestones, including integration into the SkyTeam airline alliance, of which Air France-KLM is also a member. The two carriers have already had a commercial cooperation since summer 2024. Control of SAS would allow Air France-KLM to expand in the Scandinavian market and create additional value for shareholders, said the Air France-KLM statement. "Following their successful restructuring, SAS has delivered impressive performance, and we are confident that the airline's potential will continue to grow through deeper integration within the Air France-KLM Group," said Smith. The stake sale comes as executives seek more consolidation in Europe's fragmented airline industry, which they say is needed to compete with U.S. and Middle Eastern rivals. SAS has 138 aircraft in service and carried more than 25 million passengers last year, generating revenues of 4.1 billion euros. The group would have a majority of seats on the board of directors, while the Danish state will keep its 26.4% stake in SAS and its seats on the board.
