US withdraws delivery of Patriot interceptor missiles to Ukraine in a strong upset to Kyiv's air defence
The US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the suspension of delivering missiles and ammo to Kyiv, including dozens of Patriot interceptor missiles, more than 100 Hellfire missiles and dozens of Stinger missiles, reports NBC News.
'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,' White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement, an apparent reference to the decision to suspend deliveries. 'The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran.'
The Patriot – which is America's finest missile defence system (and surpassed only by the Russian S-400) – is essential for Ukraine's air defences, forming the backbone of its defence systems. The lack of interceptor missiles could deal a huge blow to Kyiv's ongoing war with an ever-advancing Moscow, which now controls a fifth of Ukraine's territory.
'At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its approach to achieving this objective while also preserving US forces' readiness for administration defence priorities,' said Elbridge Colby, the undersecretary for policy.
An anonymous US official said that the delivery was halted due to its own stockpile running low, and that Washington will continue providing Ukraine with arms supplies.
Simultaneously, the funding for the Slavic country's defence will be reduced owing to a policy change by President Donald Trump, who since taking office has repeatedly asked Moscow and Kyiv to resolve their differences, even threatening to withdraw from the peace process due to Washington's growing impatience.
'This administration views the conflict differently,' Hegseth said. 'We believe a negotiated peace is in the best interest of both Ukraine and Russia — and of America.'
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