U.S. halts key weapons shipments to Ukraine amid stockpile concerns

The Pentagon has paused shipments of critical air defence missiles and precision munitions to Ukraine due to concerns over dwindling U.S. stockpiles, a decision that threatens to undermine Kyiv’s defence against intensifying Russian offensives, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters on Tuesday.

This move, which slows deliveries promised under former President Joe Biden’s administration, comes at a precarious moment for Ukraine, as Russian forces advance in the southeast and the European Union struggles to fill the gap left by reduced U.S. support.

Details of the pause and its immediate impact

The halted shipments include air defence interceptors vital for countering Russian drones and missiles, such as Patriot interceptors, as well as precision-guided munitions like 155mm Howitzer rounds, Hellfire missiles, and GMLRS precision rocket systems.

These weapons are critical to Ukraine’s ability to protect its cities and infrastructure from Russia’s escalating aerial assaults, which recently included the largest attack since the 2022 invasion, involving 60 missiles and 477 drones. The pause, initiated in recent days, follows a Pentagon review led by Undersecretary for Policy Elbridge Colby, which highlighted shortages in U.S. inventories that could compromise readiness for other global contingencies.

In an email, the Pentagon stated it is providing President Donald Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine while aligning with the administration’s goal of ending Russia’s war.

“At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces’ readiness for administration defence priorities,” Colby said. The White House framed the decision as prioritizing “America’s interests first,” citing recent U.S. missile strikes on Iran as evidence of its military strength.

Ukraine’s battlefield losses and Russian advances

The timing of the pause is particularly dire for Ukraine, which is losing ground in the southeastern regions of Donetsk and Dnipropetrovsk. Russia, controlling roughly a fifth of Ukrainian territory, has intensified its offensive, gaining ground in recent weeks and launching widespread air attacks.

On 1 July a Russian missile strike in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast killed the commander of Ukraine’s 110th Separate Mechanized Brigade and injured 30 others, underscoring the mounting pressure on Kyiv’s forces.

Ukraine’s military intelligence reports that Russia is planning to escalate drone and missile strikes to exhaust Ukraine’s limited air defence resources, with up to 500 drones potentially launched simultaneously. The loss of U.S.-supplied Patriot missiles, which can intercept advanced Russian ballistic missiles like the Kinzhal, leaves Ukraine’s cities and infrastructure increasingly vulnerable.

EU’s inability to replace U.S. aid

The European Union, despite contributing $138 billion to Ukraine’s war effort compared to $119 billion from the U.S., lacks the capacity to fully replace American military support. Europe’s defence stocks, depleted after years of supplying Ukraine, cannot match the Pentagon’s scale, particularly for high-end systems like Patriot air defences and HIMARS long-range missile systems.

The EU has proposed an €800 billion plan to bolster its own defences and support Ukraine, but experts warn that European economies, strained by inflation and other pressures, may struggle to sustain this level of aid long-term without U.S. involvement.

Samir Puri of Chatham House noted that U.S. and European aid are “intertwined,” and the absence of American support creates a “huge component missing” from Ukraine’s defence structure. Eastern European nations, wary of Russian threats, are reluctant to part with their own advanced systems, further limiting alternatives for Kyiv.

The U.S. supply pause reflects a broader shift under the Trump administration, which has prioritized U.S. military readiness and questioned the extent of American involvement in Ukraine. Previous pauses in February and March 2025, followed by the resumption of Biden-era aid, indicate a pattern of reassessment. Trump has emphasized that Europe should bear more of the burden, citing the “beautiful ocean” separating the U.S. from Russia’s threat.

At the recent NATO summit, Trump expressed openness to providing more Patriot systems but noted their scarcity, as they are also supplied to Israel. The administration’s push for a negotiated peace, evident in Trump’s meetings with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and calls for a ceasefire, adds pressure on Kyiv to consider concessions, including territorial ones, which Zelenskyy has resisted.

The pause in U.S. aid coincides with renewed diplomatic efforts, including French President Emmanuel Macron’s first call with Russian President Vladimir Putin in nearly three years, discussed on Tuesday.

Putin and Macron rekindle dialogue after three-year hiatus

The Pentagon has $3.85 billion in remaining authorized funds for Ukraine, but it is unclear if or when these will be used. European allies, while committed, face logistical and economic constraints, and Ukraine’s domestic production of drones and munitions cannot yet compensate for the loss of advanced Western systems. As Trump’s administration continues to review aid policies, the pause signals a potential reduction in U.S. commitment, which could embolden Russia and force Ukraine into a weaker negotiating position.

With agencies, edited by g.g.

Caption: File photo. German and Ukrainian soldiers stand in front of ‘Patriot’ anti-aircraft missile systems during the visit of Ukrainian President Zelensky to a military training area in Germany, 11 June 2024. Ukrainina President visits Germany to take part in The Ukraine Recovery Conference 2024 that takes place in Berlin from 11 to 12 June 2024, under the slogan ‘United in defense. United in recovery. Stronger together.’ EPA/JENS BUETTNER / POOL