The United States has completely halted the supply of weapons, munitions, shells, and spare parts to Ukraine, according to officials in Kyiv who spoke to The Economist on Wednesday. While US authorities have downplayed the decision’s impact, the move has sparked significant concern among Ukrainian leaders.
Ukrainian officials reported that on the night of June 30 to July 1, the Pentagon ordered cargo planes carrying critical air-defense interceptors and other military equipment to return to European bases, preventing their delivery to Ukraine as originally planned.
The suspension particularly affects the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI), a US program that procures arms for Kyiv directly from American defense contractors, as opposed to the Presidential Drawdown Authority (PDA), which draws from existing US military stockpiles, The Economist noted. This distinction is critical, as the PDA has not been authorized for new aid packages since President Donald Trump assumed office in January, while USAI-funded deliveries were expected to continue through at least 2028, based on projections cited by The Economist.
The freeze also extends to US ammunition already positioned in Poland, which was awaiting transport to Ukraine, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing sources within the Trump administration and US Congress.
A White House official, speaking to CBS News, revealed that the suspension is not limited to Ukraine but also applies to other nations recently “reclassified” by the US, meaning they will no longer be prioritized for weapons and munitions deliveries moving forward.
The Pentagon, however, described the halt as a “temporary measure” aimed at reviewing all arms shipments to Ukraine to ensure the United States maintains its defensive readiness. “We cannot distribute weapons globally without limits. Our priority is safeguarding America’s homeland and supporting our troops worldwide,” Pentagon Chief Spokesman Sean Parnell told reporters on Wednesday.
As Ukraine faces ongoing Russian missile and drone attacks, Kyiv is now exploring alternative strategies, including urging European allies to purchase American weapons on its behalf, Politico reported on Wednesday. This shift could also assist NATO member states in meeting the alliance’s recently agreed-upon 5% defense spending target, established at last week’s NATO summit.
Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, emphasized the urgency of securing additional air defense systems, which Kyiv is now prepared to purchase directly from the US, having previously received them as military aid. “Russia’s relentless missile barrages on our cities make air defense systems a matter of life and death for millions of Ukrainians,” Yermak wrote on his Telegram channel on Wednesday.
The need for such defenses remains acute, as Russian drone and missile strikes continued across Ukraine, resulting in three deaths and 34 injuries, according to regional officials cited by the Kyiv Independent on Thursday.
