generalspeaking

Arming Ukraine Against Predatory Russia

"The Ukrainian side stressed that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue the war."

Ukraine Foreign Ministry 

 

"This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe."

"The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran."

White House spokesperson Anna Kelly 

 

"America’s military has never been more ready and more capable."

"[The major tax cut and spending package moving through Congress] ensures that our weapons and defense systems are modernized to protect against 21st century threats for generations to come."

U.S. Defense Department spokesman Sean Parnell  

 

"[Defense Department officials continue] to provide the president with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end."

"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 defense priorities."

Elbridge Colby, Defense Department undersecretary for policy

Patriot air defense systems in Zamosc, Poland, on July 3, 2023. (Soeren Stache/picture alliance via Getty Images)

 

Ukraine was completely caught off guard by a White House announcement that some arms shipments to the war-battered country was being halted by Washington. Deeply dependent on U.S. arms, the Ukrainian defence ministry stated that the courtesy of being directly notified of the reduction had been denied Ukraine. Not that this move hadn't been anticipated. Halts to U.S. aid following Donald Trump's return to the White House had long been feared by Kyiv in the wake of the president's having criticized tens of billion in support and weapons provided to Ukraine by his predecessor. 

 

Moscow, on the other hand, was more than pleased at news of the decision, crowing that an end to the war could result from it. The hard  reality is that any slowdown in weapons provision by the U.S. to Ukraine could do incalculable damage to Kyiv's ability to fend off escalating Russian aerial bombardments, or gains made on the front lines. The U.S. deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv was summoned by the Ukrainian foreign ministry about what the cuts would mean for Kyiv.

 

Some key weapons shipments promised by the previous U.S. administration were being halted by the White House. Missiles for Patriot air defence systems, precision-guided GMLRS, Hellfire missiles and Howitzer rounds are among the items being held back, according to Politico and other US. media. According to Elbridge Colby, undersecretary for policy at the Defense Department, the decision to halt some weaponry relates to Pentagon officials aiming to provide Trump "with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end."   

"[Europe] had only made limited progress [in strengthening its defence industries."

"Continued U.S. aid remains extremely important for Ukraine's long-term effectiveness on the battlefield."

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) May report

Washington had spearheaded Western support for Ukraine under President Biden, with the approval of over $100 billion in aid, inclusive of $43 billion in weaponry. Trump's style is completely dissimilar through efforts to  push the two sides toward peace talks. Phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin  had resulted in  rejected calls for a ceasefire, with demands that Ukraine cede more  territory should it really wish Moscow to halt its invasion launched in 2022. 

Volodymyr Zelenskyy standing in front of a US-made Patriot missile system. Ukraine has been coming under increased missile and drone attack from Russia. Photograph: Jens Buttner/Reuters

 

Leaving Kyiv to turn to Europe to make up the U.S. shortfall. A  high-ranking source in the Ukrainian military stated that Kyiv remains "seriously dependent" on U.S. arms. "Europe is doing its best, but it will be difficult for us without American ammunition". As for Moscow, the Kremlin stated that weapons delivery reduction to Kyiv would boost an end to the conflict. "The fewer the number of weapons that are delivered to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation", said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

 

Attacks on Ukraine have been ramped up throughout June by Russia, which launched close to twice as many missiles and over 30 percent more drones than in May. At least four fatal attacks hit Kyiv in June, leaving residents fearful that a cessation of American aid would leave the capital even more vulnerable to unrestrained Russian attacks.  

"They do want to have the antimissile missiles, OK, as they call them, the Patriots."

"And we’re going to see if we can make some available. We need them, too. We’re supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective."

"Hard to believe how effective. They do want that more than any other thing."

U.S. President Donald J. Trump 

Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers a speech at the Council of Europe after signing the legal instruments necessary to launch the Special Tribunal for the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine, in Strasbourg, eastern France, Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Pascal Bastien)

 

  

Labels: Reliance on U.S. Weaponry, Russian Invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian Counteroffensive, Washington Halts Deliveries

posted by Pieface @ Friday, July 04, 2025