US halts some weapons shipments to Ukraine

Missiles for Patriot aerial defence systems and Hellfire missiles are among items being held back, according to US media.

The United States says it is halting immoderate weapons deliveries to Kyiv that were promised nether the Biden administration, arsenic Russia intensifies its attacks connected Ukraine.

The Biden-era pledges, which included assorted munitions to bolster Ukraine’s defences, are present nether reappraisal arsenic the Pentagon reassesses existent inventory levels. The determination could awesome a displacement successful priorities nether President Donald Trump, who has pressed for a much restrained planetary subject posture.

“This determination was made to enactment America’s interests archetypal pursuing a reappraisal of our nation’s subject enactment and assistance to different countries crossed the globe,” said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly successful a connection connected Tuesday.

The interior appraisal by the Pentagon recovered immoderate stockpiles “too low” to warrant contiguous transportation to Ukraine, said a US authoritative who spoke connected information of anonymity, according to Politico, which archetypal reported the halt of subject aid.

“America’s subject has ne'er been much acceptable and much capable,” said Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell, noting a large taxation and defence spending measure successful Congress would assistance modernise systems for semipermanent deterrence.

Politico and different US media reported that missiles for Patriot aerial defence systems, precision artillery and Hellfire missiles are among the items being held back.

Russia intensifies assault

The hold comes astatine a precarious infinitesimal for Ukraine, arsenic Russia intensifies its aerial bombardment successful 1 of the heaviest phases of the war. Hopes for a ceasefire – agelong championed by Trump – person faded further, with talks betwixt Kyiv and Moscow stalled.

Since the commencement of Russia’s full-scale penetration successful February 2022, the US has provided much than $66bn successful weapons and information assistance to Ukraine.

Throughout the war, Washington has besides urged its allies to proviso aerial defence systems, peculiarly Patriot rocket batteries. However, galore NATO members stay reluctant to springiness up the systems, peculiarly countries successful Eastern Europe that are wary of Russia.

Trump, who met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during past week’s NATO summit, acknowledged Ukraine’s petition for much Patriots.

“They bash privation to person the antimissile missiles, OK, arsenic they telephone them – the Patriots,” Trump said. “We’re going to spot if we tin marque immoderate available. We request them, too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and they’re precise effective. Hard to judge however effective.”

Elbridge Colby, undersecretary for argumentation astatine the US Department of Defense, said the medication was exploring ways to equilibrium continued enactment for Ukraine with readiness astatine home.

“The section is rigorously examining and adapting its approach,” Colby said, “while preserving US forces’ readiness for existent defence priorities.”

Source:

Al Jazeera and quality agencies