Ukraine is facing a critical ammunition shortage after efforts to secure a fresh US funding package failed and Europe missed its targets for arms production, a senior US military official said. 

Senate Republicans on Wednesday voted against a bill to provide a crucial $60 billion of aid to Ukraine, leaving American shipments effectively on hold.

The congressional delay risked creating an “air bubble” or “gap in the hose” of supplies to Kyiv, a senior US military official told the Financial Times. 

“This is really as grave as we have been portraying it… this is a very grim scenario,” a defence official said.

“It is a desperate situation on the front lines for the Ukrainians, far worse than they are letting on,” added a senior Nato diplomat.

Hopes remain that there could be a final breakthrough to secure US aid after the Senate yesterday voted to advance a debate over a separate bill to send $60bn in additional funds to Ukraine.

Josep Borrell, The EU chief diplomat yesterday gave a speech in Warsaw calling on European countries to support Ukraine “not ‘for as long as it takes’ but for ‘whatever it takes.’”

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