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Novaya Gazeta Europe
03-07-2025
- Business
- Novaya Gazeta Europe
The Economist: Concern in Kyiv grows as officials say US has suspended all weapon supplies — Novaya Gazeta Europe
German and Ukrainian soldiers stand in front of Patriot anti-aircraft missile systems during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to a military training area in Germany, 11 June 2024. Photo: EPA-EFE/JENS BUETTNER / POOL The United States has suspended the supply of not only certain categories of weapons and munitions to Ukraine, but also all shipments of American weapons, including shells and spare parts, officials in Kyiv told The Economist on Wednesday, although US officials have downplayed the importance of the move. According to Ukrainian officials cited by The Economist, the Pentagon decided on the night of 30 June to 1 July to turn back cargo planes carrying air-defence interceptors and other weaponry to European bases, from where they were set to be transferred to Ukraine. They are particularly concerned that the move is tied to the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a programme under which Washington sources arms for Kyiv from US defence contractors, rather than supplying them directly from existing military stockpiles — a method known as the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), the outlet noted. Although the White House had not authorised any new support for Ukraine under the PDA since US President Donald Trump took office in January, weapons and supplies ordered through the USAI were expected to continue flowing until at least 2028, according to research cited by The Economist. The restrictions on deliveries also affected US ammunition that was already located in Poland and was awaiting shipment to Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials in the Trump administration and members of Congress. A White House source also told CBS News that the suspension of arms supplies affected not only Ukraine, but other countries who have been 'reclassified' as well, meaning that they will not be prioritised for the supply of weapons and munitions in the future. For its part, the Pentagon states that the halt in deliveries is a 'temporary action', intended to enable a review of all weapons deliveries in Ukraine in order to maintain US defensive preparedness. 'We can't give weapons to everybody all around the world. We have to look out for America and defending our homeland and our troops around the world,' Sean Parnell, Chief Pentagon Spokesman, told reporters on Wednesday. Facing a supply drought amid continued missile strikes, Kyiv is now seeking to arrange the purchase of American weapons for Ukraine by European countries, Politico reported on Wednesday, a change in tack that would also help European member-states in NATO reach a 5% spending commitment agreed at the organisation's summit last week. According to the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, Kyiv is also prepared to purchase additional air defence systems from the US that it previously received via military aid channels. "Russia continues to launch massive missile strikes on our cities. In these conditions, air defence systems are a matter of life and death for millions of Ukrainians," Yermak wrote on his Telegram channel on Wednesday. Since Yermak's comments, Russian drone and missile strikes have continued across much of Ukraine killing three and injuring 34 people, according to Ukrainian regional officials cited by the Kyiv Independent on Thursday.
New York Post
02-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Trump can't let Pentagon meddlers derail ‘peace through strength' for Ukraine
In a major policy reversal, the Pentagon has halted shipments of key munitions Ukraine needs to defend against Russia's unprovoked aggression — a startling decision that runs counter to President Donald Trump's 'Peace Through Strength' agenda. The immediate effect will be to weaken Ukraine's defenses and derail Trump's own efforts to achieve peace. The potential long-term effect is equally damaging, undermining US reliability as a global power and a credible ally. The suspended aid reportedly includes a variety of air defense missiles as well as artillery rockets and shells, some of which were already en route to Ukraine. While the Defense Department cited concerns about American national security and depleted US stocks, many of these munitions were procured specifically for Kyiv under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Others came directly from the Pentagon, pledged under so-called Presidential Drawdown Authority, after an official assessment certified that the transfer wouldn't jeopardize US military readiness. So this reversal implies some political thumbs on the Defense Department's scale. This follows a recent Pentagon decision to divert fuses for counter-drone rockets — also procured under USAI — from Ukraine to US forces in the Middle East. This reduction in US munitions deliveries won't lead Ukrainian lines to collapse. It will, however, result in significantly more deaths of Ukrainian civilians and troops, more critical infrastructure destroyed, and more territory lost. Vladimir Putin will view this Pentagon decision as a green light to ignore Trump's frequent warnings to 'stop.' Ukraine's defense of its skies will likely suffer the most. Russia has recently ramped up its missile and drone barrages against Ukrainian cities and critical infrastructure, drawing on its increased production of these munitions as well as ballistic missiles from North Korea. Kyiv, meanwhile, is already running low on key air-defense munitions. It's particularly short on interceptor missiles for the Patriot system, Ukraine's main defense against ballistic threats. Now, Washington is reportedly withholding dozens of those interceptors, which Ukraine's European backers cannot soon replace. Nor can they quickly replace the 250 GMLRS rockets reportedly blocked by the Pentagon, sharply reducing Ukraine's capacity for long-range precision strikes on high-value military targets — a boon to Russia's ongoing offensive. Keep up with today's most important news Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters Slashing Ukraine aid doesn't just hurt Kyiv: It also damages Trump's ability to achieve his stated goal of brokering a peace agreement. Putin has made it clear he has no interest in peace unless it means Ukrainian capitulation. For months, the Russians have dragged their feet on peace talks, insisting on maximalist demands while redoubling their assault on Ukraine. As Trump himself has observed, Putin's intransigence stems in part from the fact that Russia currently has the upper hand on the battlefield — and the autocrat seems to believe he can grind Ukraine down until it's forced to accept his terms. By undermining Ukraine's battlefield position and communicating that American support is waning, the Pentagon's decision will only harden Putin's determination and undercut Trump's leverage. Indeed, the Kremlin quickly welcomed the aid suspension, saying brings Russia 'closer' to ending the war. Long-term, this Pentagon decision will do lasting damage to America's reputation as a credible ally, reversing the gains Trump achieved with his strong support for Israel and attack on Iran's nuclear installations. The president's recent decisions to send an additional THAAD missile defense battery to Israel and surge Aegis destroyers to the Eastern Mediterranean undoubtedly risked US military readiness in other theaters — but Trump made the leap, showing strength to the Iranian mullahs and support for our Israeli ally. By contrast, cutting assistance to Ukraine will shake confidence in the United States across the globe. Having come so far to support Ukraine's fight for freedom, pulling the rug out now is unconscionable. Trump will have to own the strategic and political disaster the Pentagon is courting in Ukraine — much as President Joe Biden had to own the fallout from the botched US withdrawal from Afghanistan. Rather than slashing Ukraine aid, Trump should seek to help Ukrainian forces exhaust the Russian military's offensive potential as soon as possible. In concert, he should work with America's Western allies to ramp up economic pressure on Russia. Trump is no isolationist. He proved that when he bombed Fordow. And to be sure, his Defense Department is right to put American warfighters first. But given what's at stake, the president would do well to reconsider whether the United States gains more from releasing these weapons to Ukraine than holding them in reserve for a rainy day. Rear Adm. (Ret.) Mark Montgomery co-leads the Air and Missile Defense Program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, where John Hardie is deputy director of the Russia Program.
Newsweek
02-07-2025
- Business
- Newsweek
Ukraine Braces for Impact of U.S. Weapons Pause
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. With U.S. weapons and missile flows stanched at Ukraine's borders, Kyiv is bracing for how it will keep its air defenses firing in the face of intense Russian bombardment and its guns leveled at slowly advancing Russian forces. "I hope it's a temporary halt related to the need to make some calculations with regard to American stockpiles," said Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine's parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee. "I also hope that those people who have taken this decision fully realize what consequences it might have for Ukraine, including safety of civilian population, if we don't get on time the necessary munitions," Merezhko told Newsweek. On Tuesday, the U.S. confirmed it had paused the delivery of some of Ukraine's most in-demand equipment and supplies. Politico first reported that a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles had raised concerns over a dip in the Department of Defense's stockpiles, and that an initial decision to hold back some military aid pledged during the previous administration was made almost a month ago. The stoppage applies to aid Ukraine receives both through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and through donations pulled from U.S. military stocks, according to the report. Under USAI, Washington has been able to buy equipment for Ukraine from American industry players. The U.S. has provided about $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, the State Department said in a March news release. U.S. forces—and, crucially, the country's stockpiles—have also been heavily involved in the Middle East, including by intercepting missiles heading for Israel. Ukrainian air defense intercepting a Shahed drone midair in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 30, 2023. Ukrainian air defense intercepting a Shahed drone midair in Kyiv, Ukraine, on May 30, 2023. AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka "This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran." Last month, the U.S. carried out large-scale strikes on several Iranian nuclear sites. Ukraine's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had not "received any official notifications about the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules of the agreed defense assistance." The delayed weapons include rounds for 155 mm howitzers, more than 100 Hellfire missiles and precision-guided rounds known as GMLRS, NBC News reported. The U.S. has also paused its deliveries of short-range Stinger missiles widely used by Ukraine and dozens of Patriot air defense missiles, vital for protecting major Ukrainian cities from Russia's most advanced weapons. Getting more of the U.S.-made Patriot systems, credited with knocking out Russia's hypersonic missiles, has consistently been one of Ukraine's top priorities. Russia has hammered Ukraine with intensive waves of aerial strikes in recent weeks as ceasefire talks have failed to yield any progress toward an agreement. Ukraine's air force said on Tuesday that Kyiv shot down 4,750 air targets in June alone, including almost 100 Kh-101 cruise missiles and 14 short-range ballistic missiles. Air defense is the primary concern among Ukrainian officials, although Moscow has continued plugging away with small but steady advances along the front lines in the east. Kyiv's Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had requested more information from the U.S., and that it was "critically important" to strengthen its air defense network. "Even a partial suspension of U.S. military aid could be critical for Ukraine," said Oleksiy Goncharenko, a Ukrainian lawmaker for the country's southern Odesa region. "Russia continues to bombard our cities almost every night, drones are shot down over Ukraine, and roughly once a week, Russia carries out massive missile attacks," he told Newsweek. "In other words, we are being denied the means to defend ourselves." "I sincerely hope the United States will consider providing air defense support, as we urgently need it, especially to protect our civilians," Goncharenko added. "Russia will definitely use any delay in providing American military aid to Ukraine and might intensify bombardments of civilian objects," Merezhko said. Patriot missiles are the "most vulnerable point" in the aid blockage, Ivan Stupak, a former official with Ukraine's SBU security service, told Newsweek. When asked about Patriot missiles during the NATO summit in The Hague last week, U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington was "going to see if we can make some available." "They're very hard to get," he added. "We need them, too. We were supplying them to Israel." Stockpiles Running Out? The outbreak of fresh violence in the Middle East has used up interceptor missiles of many types, but mainly those fired by the American Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, which intercept ballistic missiles, and missiles fired from ships, said Sidharth Kaushal, a research fellow with the British think tank the Royal United Services Institute. While Patriot missiles have occasionally been used in the Middle East, a "considerable number" were sent to Ukraine, Kaushal told Newsweek. But the U.S. has replenished some of its stocks through buying back missiles, diverting shipments from export customers and benefiting from increased production rates for Patriot missiles, he continued. "Inventory stockpiles are not critically low," Kaushal said. But the demand for Patriots is "growing significantly," not least in the Indo-Pacific, he added. The exact number of munitions in the U.S. arsenal is not public knowledge. Former Pentagon official Jim Townsend told Newsweek that the Department of Defense has always been concerned about Patriot missile stocks, particularly for use in the Indo-Pacific and against Houthi rebels launching missiles from Yemen. "We've always been thin on Patriot," he said. "This is not about stockpiles," said retired U.S. Army General Ben Hodges, who formerly headed U.S. Army Europe. "It's a choice of this administration to placate Russia, at the expense of Ukraine," Hodges told Newsweek. Trump and his senior officials have appeared unwilling to exert painful pressure on Russia during ceasefire negotiations, despite Trump's clear desire to reach an accord and bring Europe's largest land conflict since World War II to an end. Trump said last week that it was "more difficult than people would have any idea" to secure a deal, adding, "Vladimir Putin has been more difficult." Trump has typically veered away from heaping criticism on the Kremlin leader but has swiped at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. While Russian missiles and drones rain down across Ukraine, the Russian army is "still grinding forward" in the east, John Foreman, a former U.K. defense attaché to Moscow and Kyiv, told Newsweek. A Russian-appointed official said earlier this week that Russian forces had seized all of the Luhansk region, one of two eastern Ukrainian regions forming the Donbas area, Ukraine's industrial heartland. The claim has not been corroborated by other sources, including Russia's community of influential military bloggers. Russia says it annexed Luhansk and three other regions in the east in 2022, but the move is not internationally recognized. Moscow has not established full control over any of the regions it has claimed as annexed. Russia has for many months controlled about 99 percent of Luhansk, according to analysis published by the Institute for the Study of War think tank, but it has struggled to capture the remaining land. Russia has also contended with shortages of munitions, despite warping its economy by putting it on a teetering war footing. Its advance is costing Moscow dearly, said Daniel Rice, a former aide to Ukraine's commander in chief and the president of American University Kyiv. "Firing tens of thousands of artillery shells daily depletes even a massive magazine," he told Newsweek. "Russia had to solve this by partnering with North Korea." Russia has received extensive deliveries of shells and short-range ballistic missiles from Pyongyang. Last year, North Korea became the first country not directly involved in Russia's invasion of Ukraine to commit troops to the front line.
Economic Times
11-06-2025
- Business
- Economic Times
Is the US abandoning Ukraine? Aid cuts loom in 2026 budget, Europe pressed to counter Russia
The United States plans to decrease military assistance to Ukraine in the 2026 budget. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth says this is a strategic shift. The Trump administration aims to de-escalate the conflict through diplomacy. Washington wants NATO allies to take more responsibility for Europe's defence. Concerns grow over the cost of aid to Ukraine. The US will cut military aid to Ukraine in 2026, focusing on diplomacy instead, as NATO allies are expected to handle Europe's defence against Russia. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Why is the US cutting aid to Ukraine? On the ground in Ukraine Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Is the US deserting the Ukrainians? The United States has confirmed that it will reduce military aid to Ukraine in the proposed 2026 defense budget. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated before a congressional subcommittee that the decision is a strategic reorientation, with the Trump administration trying to de-escalate the Ukraine conflict through diplomatic efforts rather than prolonged military engagement. Hegseth also said that Washington's NATO allies should take primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense and deterrence of comes when growing concerns within Washington over the sustainability of the multi-billion-dollar aid packages sent to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February the past two years, the US has committed more than $66 billion to Ukraine, supplying it with advanced weaponry, ammunition, air defense systems, and logistical with global tensions rising elsewhere, from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, and domestic calls for fiscal restraint growing louder, the administration is trying to push its NATO allies to spend more in supporting at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on June 10, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) will be scaled back. 'It is a reduction in this budget,' he told lawmakers, pointing out a viewpoint different from the Biden administration.'This administration takes a very different view of that conflict. We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation's interests, especially with all the competing interests around the globe.'The USAI is a key mechanism for delivering US military aid to Ukraine. While Hegseth did not disclose precise figures, he noted that the Pentagon is reassessing specific systems used in the war, saying they are 'not survivable on the modern battlefield,' hinting at a deeper review of weapons strategy beyond view is that the US doesn't want to only focus on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but a much larger potential economic threat, China. Hegseth hinted that American defense resources must be strategically distributed to counter global threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific the same time, he called on NATO allies to step up, asserting, 'Europe should take primary responsibility for conventional defense and deterrence of Russia.'This messaging mirrors previous calls from Washington for the European Union and NATO to bear a greater share of the financial and logistical burden in supporting Ukraine continues to face relentless Russian aerial assaults. Missile and drone strikes recently targeted Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, intensifying pressure on Ukrainian forces and urgently requests additional air defense systems, including US-supplied Patriot batteries, to shield its cities and energy grid. However, the US has now reallocated some of these resources, reportedly including 20,000 anti-drone missiles originally designated for Ukraine, to American military operations in the Middle officials have not yet formally commented on the proposed aid cuts. Still, analysts warn that any significant drop in Western support could devastate the Ukrainian army and put pressure on Western European NATO the US administration's stance is complex to untangle, the US is not deserting Ukraine either. On multiple occasions, President Trump has remained committed to Ukraine's aid cut may signal a growing prioritization of diplomatic pathways over sustained military funding. The Pentagon is expected to submit its full 2026 budget proposal in the coming move will likely spark debate in Congress, where bipartisan support for Ukraine has shown signs of Social Security Fairness Act, passed in January, is another example of budgetary recalibration: it offers domestic spending increases while potentially diverting resources from overseas believe that the United States is no longer prepared to underwrite an open-ended war in Eastern Europe without a clear endgame and that future support for Ukraine may be shaped more by diplomacy than defence.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Is the US abandoning Ukraine? Aid cuts loom in 2026 budget, Europe pressed to counter Russia
The United States has confirmed that it will reduce military aid to Ukraine in the proposed 2026 defense budget. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated before a congressional subcommittee that the decision is a strategic reorientation, with the Trump administration trying to de-escalate the Ukraine conflict through diplomatic efforts rather than prolonged military engagement. Hegseth also said that Washington's NATO allies should take primary responsibility for Europe's conventional defense and deterrence of Russia. This comes when growing concerns within Washington over the sustainability of the multi-billion-dollar aid packages sent to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Invest today with in Shriram's ULIP Shriram Life Insurance Undo Over the past two years, the US has committed more than $66 billion to Ukraine, supplying it with advanced weaponry, ammunition, air defense systems, and logistical support. However, with global tensions rising elsewhere, from the Indo-Pacific to the Middle East, and domestic calls for fiscal restraint growing louder, the administration is trying to push its NATO allies to spend more in supporting Ukraine. Live Events Why is the US cutting aid to Ukraine? Testifying at a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing on June 10, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed that funding for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) will be scaled back. 'It is a reduction in this budget,' he told lawmakers, pointing out a viewpoint different from the Biden administration. 'This administration takes a very different view of that conflict. We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest of both parties and our nation's interests, especially with all the competing interests around the globe.' The USAI is a key mechanism for delivering US military aid to Ukraine. While Hegseth did not disclose precise figures, he noted that the Pentagon is reassessing specific systems used in the war, saying they are 'not survivable on the modern battlefield,' hinting at a deeper review of weapons strategy beyond Ukraine. Another view is that the US doesn't want to only focus on the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but a much larger potential economic threat, China. Hegseth hinted that American defense resources must be strategically distributed to counter global threats, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. At the same time, he called on NATO allies to step up, asserting, 'Europe should take primary responsibility for conventional defense and deterrence of Russia.' This messaging mirrors previous calls from Washington for the European Union and NATO to bear a greater share of the financial and logistical burden in supporting Kyiv. On the ground in Ukraine Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to face relentless Russian aerial assaults. Missile and drone strikes recently targeted Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, intensifying pressure on Ukrainian forces and infrastructure. Kyiv urgently requests additional air defense systems, including US-supplied Patriot batteries, to shield its cities and energy grid. However, the US has now reallocated some of these resources, reportedly including 20,000 anti-drone missiles originally designated for Ukraine, to American military operations in the Middle East. Ukrainian officials have not yet formally commented on the proposed aid cuts. Still, analysts warn that any significant drop in Western support could devastate the Ukrainian army and put pressure on Western European NATO countries. Is the US deserting the Ukrainians? Although the US administration's stance is complex to untangle, the US is not deserting Ukraine either. On multiple occasions, President Trump has remained committed to Ukraine's sovereignty. This aid cut may signal a growing prioritization of diplomatic pathways over sustained military funding. The Pentagon is expected to submit its full 2026 budget proposal in the coming weeks. The move will likely spark debate in Congress, where bipartisan support for Ukraine has shown signs of fracturing. The Social Security Fairness Act, passed in January, is another example of budgetary recalibration: it offers domestic spending increases while potentially diverting resources from overseas commitments. Experts believe that the United States is no longer prepared to underwrite an open-ended war in Eastern Europe without a clear endgame and that future support for Ukraine may be shaped more by diplomacy than defence.
