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.