Latest news with #JohnGinkel
The Herald Scotland
4 hours ago
- Politics
- The Herald Scotland
Pentagon cuts off some weapons to Ukraine as munitions run low
Ukraine and the United States are "clarifying all the details of defense support, including air defense," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video statement posted to X on July 2. At a meeting the same day, Ukraine's foreign minister told John Ginkel, the deputy chief of mission at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv that "any delay or slowing down in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue war and terror, rather than seek peace," according to a press release from the Ukrainian foreign ministry. It's unclear which weapons are held up in the pause. According to reports, the delay includes dozens of Patriot missiles, more than 100 Hellfire missiles and more than 250 missiles for precision-guided missile systems called GMLRS. Parnell said the Defense Department would not release any information about the types of weapons or munitions that are delayed or the timeline of the review. It's also unclear if the pause would apply to the $3.4 billion that the United States sends to Israel annually to bolster its missile defense. The announcement comes days after the State Department greenlit another $510 million in munitions support equipment on June 30, handing it to Congress for approval. As of mid-March, the U.S. had provided Ukraine with $66.9 billion in military assistance since Russia launched its invasion in February of 2022, according to the State Department. That includes three Patriot air defense systems, which can take down ballistic and cruise missiles, 12 NASAMS surface-to-air missile systems, more than 3,000 Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and more than 3 million rounds of 155mm artillery. President Donald Trump temporarily shut down all military aid to Ukraine in March following an volatile meeting with Zelenskyy in the Oval Office, but restarted it weeks later. US support for Ukraine, Israel leaves missile stocks low The pause on weapons comes amid growing worry in Washington that American military support for Ukraine and Israel in its 12-day aerial war with Iran in June has left the Pentagon's stockpiles of munitions and air defense systems at concerningly low levels. Between Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the blows traded between Israel and Iran, "I'm not familiar with another instance in which we've had this level of a consumption rate" of missiles and interceptors, said Jon Ludwigson, director of the Government Accountability Office's contracting and national security acquisitions team. More: Israel may run low on missile interceptors, putting US in a 'bind' Adm. James Kilby, the chief of Naval operations, told Congress in early May, "Many of our munition inventories still fall below the total munition requirement." "Munitions transfers and expenditures related to the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Hamas conflict," and Houthi attacks on U.S. ships in the Red Sea have added up to $2.3 billion, according to Kilby's testimony. The Navy is also using SM-3s - Navy interceptors that can take down ballistic missiles - at an "alarming rate," Kilby said at a June 24 Senate budget hearing. The United States also used Patriot air defense systems to defend Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar from Iranian ballistic missiles in an attack Iran launched in retaliation for the U.S. bombing of three of its nuclear facilities on June 21. The Trump administration used more than $200 million worth of munitions in the first three weeks of Operation Rough Rider, its two-month attack on Houthi forces in Yemen, the New York Times reported. Israel burned through missile interceptors at a rapid clip to take down projectiles fired by Iran during the 12-day war, leaving its stockpiles depleted, according to reports. Brandan Buck, a research fellow at the Cato Institute, previously told USA TODAY that if the United States replenishes those interceptors, it would need to draw from other stockpiles.
The Journal
13 hours ago
- Business
- The Journal
US announces sudden partial halt to weapons shipments to Ukraine
UKRAINE HAS APPEALED to the United States for clarity after it was caught off guard by a White House announcement that the US is halting some of its arms shipments to Ukraine. The US said that it was halting some key weapons shipments promised by the previous White House administration without elaborating further on what that would entail. The Ukrainian defence ministry, which depends significantly on US arms, said it had not been notified about the reduction in aid in advance. Any slowdown in US support could harm Ukraine's ability to fend off escalating Russian aerial bombardments or frontline gains. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this evening that Ukraine and the US are clarifying details on supplies. 'Continued American support for Ukraine, for our defence, for our people, is in our common interest,' he said. John Ginkel, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Kyiv, was summoned by the foreign ministry given uncertainty about what the cuts would mean for Ukraine. 'Now is not the time for weak decisions,' Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga wrote on X. 'We need more interceptors and systems. We are also ready to purchase or rent them,' he said. Under Biden, the US spearheaded western support for Ukraine, with the US Congress having approved more than $100 billion in aid, including $43 billion in weaponry. Advertisement Trump instead has pushed the two sides into peace talks, including in phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin — who rejected pleas for a ceasefire and demanded that Ukraine cede more territory if it wants Moscow to halt its invasion, which was launched in 2022. The US president has refused to announce new aid packages and Ukraine has been corralling European allies to step up their support. Ukraine remains 'seriously dependent' on US arms supplies, a high-ranking source in the Ukrainian military told AFP. 'Europe is doing its best, but it will be difficult for us without American ammunition,' the source said. A May report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said that Europe 'had only made limited progress' in strengthening its defence industries and that 'continued US aid remains extremely important for Ukraine's long-term effectiveness on the battlefield'. In Moscow, the Kremlin said that reducing weapons deliveries to Kyiv would help end the conflict. 'The fewer the number of weapons that are delivered to Ukraine, the closer the end of the special military operation,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters in response to a question by AFP, using Russia's term for its more than three-year-long offensive. The White House told AFP in an email that the decision to reduce shipments was taken following a 'review of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries'. Ukraine said that it was caught off-guard by the move. The defence ministry said that the country had 'not received any official notifications' on the issue. © AFP 2025
Malaysia Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Ukraine responds to US suspension of military aid
Kiev has summoned Washingtons envoy after a reported halt of military deliveries Ukraine has summoned the US charge d'affaires in Kiev, John Ginkel, following reports that Washington had suspended deliveries of key weapons systems. Military experts and Western officials all warn that the country cannot sustain conflict in the short term without continued military support. Several American media outlets, including The New York Times, Politico, and NBC News, reported on Wednesday that the US had paused shipments of Patriot missile interceptors, GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles, and thousands of 155mm artillery shells. NBC reported that some of the shipments had already arrived in Europe but were withheld from being transferred to Ukrainian forces. According to a statement issued by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Ginkel was "invited" to a discussion by Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiga on Wednesday. During the talks, the Ukrainians emphasized "the critical importance of continuing the deliveries of previously allocated defense packages," particularly air defense systems. The US envoy was informed that any "delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities" would prolong the conflict. Ukraine's Defense Ministry has not confirmed the pause. In a statement on Wednesday, it said that it is "clarifying the current factual circumstances of the supplies," stressing that Kiev has not received any official notifications about the suspension. According to media reports, the Pentagon halted the deliveries after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of available weapons stockpiles, citing concerns over munitions depletion. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has confirmed that some transfers had been paused following a Department of Defense assessment of global commitments, stating that "this decision was made to put America's interests first." The latest reported suspension marks the second time that US President Donald Trump's administration has withheld munitions from Kiev since he entered office in January. Kiev has repeatedly voiced frustration over what it sees as dwindling US support from Washington. Vladimir Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague last week, to demand more Patriot air defense systems but received no firm promises. Trump said the systems were "very hard to get" and that the US needed them for its own defense and for Israel. Russia has consistently condemned Western arm shipments to Ukraine, arguing that they only serve to prolong hostilities and lead to more bloodshed without affecting the inevitable outcome of the conflict. (
Malaysia Sun
16 hours ago
- Politics
- Malaysia Sun
Ukraine presses US for weapons
Kiev has summoned Washingtons envoy after a reported halt of military deliveries Ukraine has summoned the US charge d'affaires in Kiev, John Ginkel, following reports that Washington had suspended deliveries of key weapons systems. Military experts and Western officials have repeatedly stressed that the country wouldn't last without foreign aid. Previously, several American media outlets, including The New York Times, Politico, and NBC News, reported that the US has paused shipments of Patriot missile interceptors, GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles, and thousands of 155mm artillery shells. NBC reported that some of these shipments had already arrived in Europe but were withheld from being transferred to Ukrainian forces. According to a statement issued by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Ginkel was "invited" to a discussion by Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiga on Wednesday. During the talks, the Ukrainians emphasized "the critical importance of continuing the deliveries of previously allocated defense packages," particularly air defense systems. The US envoy was informed that any "delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities" would prolong the conflict. Ukraine's Defense Ministry, meanwhile, has not confirmed the pause in weapon deliveries from the US. In a statement on Wednesday, it said that it is "clarifying the current factual circumstances of the supplies," stressing that Kiev has not received any official notifications about the suspension. According to media reports, the Pentagon halted the deliveries after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of available weapons stockpiles, citing concerns over munitions depletion. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has confirmed that some transfers had been paused following a Department of Defense assessment of global commitments, stating that "this decision was made to put America's interests first." The latest reported suspension marks the second time that US President Donald Trump's administration has withheld munitions from Kiev since he entered office in January. Kiev has repeatedly voiced frustration over what it sees as dwindling support from Washington. Throughout the conflict, multiple military experts and senior Western officials, including Vladimir Zelensky, have repeatedly acknowledged that without foreign munitions, Ukraine would lose the conflict in fairly short order. Last week, Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague to demand more Patriot air defense systems but received no firm promises. Trump said the systems were "very hard to get" and that the US needed them for its own defense and for Israel. Russia has consistently condemned Western arm shipments to Ukraine, arguing that they only serve to prolong hostilities and lead to more bloodshed without affecting the inevitable outcome of the conflict. (
Russia Today
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Ukraine responds to US suspension of military aid
Ukraine has summoned the US chargé d'affaires in Kiev, John Ginkel, following reports that Washington had suspended deliveries of key weapons systems. Military experts and Western officials all warn that the country cannot sustain conflict in the short term without continued military support. Several American media outlets, including The New York Times, Politico, and NBC News, reported on Wednesday that the US had paused shipments of Patriot missile interceptors, GMLRS rockets, Hellfire missiles, and thousands of 155mm artillery shells. NBC reported that some of the shipments had already arrived in Europe but were withheld from being transferred to Ukrainian forces. According to a statement issued by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, Ginkel was 'invited' to a discussion by Foreign Minister Andrey Sybiga on Wednesday. During the talks, the Ukrainians emphasized 'the critical importance of continuing the deliveries of previously allocated defense packages,' particularly air defense systems. The US envoy was informed that any 'delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defense capabilities' would prolong the conflict. Ukraine's Defense Ministry has not confirmed the pause. In a statement on Wednesday, it said that it is 'clarifying the current factual circumstances of the supplies,' stressing that Kiev has not received any official notifications about the suspension. According to media reports, the Pentagon halted the deliveries after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a review of available weapons stockpiles, citing concerns over munitions depletion. White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly has confirmed that some transfers had been paused following a Department of Defense assessment of global commitments, stating that 'this decision was made to put America's interests first.' The latest reported suspension marks the second time that US President Donald Trump's administration has withheld munitions from Kiev since he entered office in January. Kiev has repeatedly voiced frustration over what it sees as dwindling US support from Washington. Vladimir Zelensky met with US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in The Hague last week, to demand more Patriot air defense systems but received no firm promises. Trump said the systems were 'very hard to get' and that the US needed them for its own defense and for Israel. Russia has consistently condemned Western arm shipments to Ukraine, arguing that they only serve to prolong hostilities and lead to more bloodshed without affecting the inevitable outcome of the conflict.
