Latest news with #StatesArmedForces
AsiaOne
13 hours ago
- Politics
- AsiaOne
Ukraine voices concern as US halts some missile shipments, World News
WASHINGTON/KYIV — A decision by Washington to halt some shipments of critical weapons to Ukraine prompted warnings by Kyiv on Wednesday (July 2) that the move would weaken its ability to defend against intensifying airstrikes and battlefield advances. Ukraine said it had called in the acting US envoy to Kyiv to underline the importance of military aid from Washington continuing, and cautioned that any cut-off would embolden Russia in its war in Ukraine. The Pentagon's decision — tied to concerns that US military stockpiles are too low — began in recent days and includes 30 Patriot air defence missiles, which Ukraine relies on to destroy fast-moving ballistic missiles, four people familiar with the decision said on Wednesday. It also includes nearly 8,500 155mm artillery shells, more than 250 precision GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles and 142 Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, they said. "The Ukrainian side emphasised that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities will only encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terror, rather than seek peace," Ukraine's foreign ministry said. The defence ministry said it had not been officially notified of any halt in US shipments and was seeking clarity from its American counterparts. A Ukrainian source familiar with the situation said the decision was a "total shock". Deputy White House press secretary Anna Kelly said the decision was made "to put America's interests first" following a Department of Defence review of military support around the world. "The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran," she said, referring to US bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities last month. Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte said the US needed to take care of its stockpiles but told Fox News that "in the short term, Ukraine cannot do without all the support it can get" when it comes to ammunition and air defence systems. Russian airstrikes Dozens of people have been killed in recent airstrikes on Ukrainian cities and Russian forces, which control about a fifth of Ukraine, have been making gains in the east. Senator Jeanne Shaheen, the top Democrat on the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said the decision risks Ukrainian lives, undermines Washington's credibility and will make it harder to end the war. "This sends a message to not just our allies, like Ukraine and our European allies, but it sends a message to our adversaries, to China, to North Korea, to Russia, that our allies can't count on the United States," she told WKBK radio in her home state New Hampshire. Since US President Donald Trump took office in January, he has softened Washington's position towards Russia, seeking a diplomatic solution to the war and raising doubts about future US military support for Kyiv. Trump said last week he was considering selling more Patriot air defence missiles to Ukraine after meeting President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian parliament's national security and defence committee, said the decision to halt shipments was "very unpleasant for us". In an email, the Pentagon said it was providing Trump with options to continue military aid to Ukraine in line with the goal of ending the war. Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defence for policy, said it was "rigorously examining and adapting its also preserving US forces' readiness". All weapons aid was briefly stopped in February, with a second, longer halt in March. Washington resumed sending the last of the aid approved under the previous administration, of Democratic President Joe Biden, but no new aid to Ukraine has been announced. The Kremlin welcomed the news of a halt, saying the conflict would end sooner if fewer arms reached Ukraine. Kyiv residents expressed alarm at the Pentagon's decision. "If we end up in a situation where there's no air defence left, I will move (out of Kyiv), because my safety is my first concern," said Oksana Kurochkina, a 35-year-old lawyer. On the battlefield, a halt in precision munitions would limit the capacity of Ukrainian troops to strike Russian positions farther behind the front line, said Jack Watling, a military analyst at the Royal United Services Institute. "In short, this decision will cost Ukrainian lives and territory," he said. [[nid:719738]]
Euronews
a day ago
- Business
- Euronews
US to halt shipment of weapons pledged to Ukraine, White House says
The US is halting shipments of some air defence missiles and other weapons previously promised to Kyiv amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, US officials said. Certain munitions were previously promised to Ukraine under the Biden administration to support its defences. However, the administration appears to have revised some of those decisions due to concerns for US interests. '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. 'The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran," Kelly quipped. The Pentagon review determined stocks were too low on some previously pledged weapons, so pending shipments of certain items won't be sent, according to AP. The US Department of Defence did not provide details on which specific weapons were being held back. 'America's military has never been more ready and more capable,' spokesperson Sean Parnell said, adding that the major tax cut and spending package moving through US Congress 'ensures that our weapons and defence systems are modernised to protect against 21st century threats for generations to come." The halt of some weapons from the US could be a big blow to Ukraine, as Moscow has significantly intensified its aerial strikes at Ukraine recently, with the drone and missile attacks and bombardments becoming more frequent and more intense. Russia launched a record 5,438 drones against Ukraine across the month of June, according to the data from Ukraine's Air Force, or about a quarter more than Moscow's previous barrage of 4,198 UAVs in March. Can Germany step in? Washington has repeatedly pressed for allies to provide air defence systems to Ukraine and step in with more weapons supplies. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that the decision to supply Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine remains under consideration. However, he stressed that Germany will not become a party to the war. "It has always been clear that if we supply the Taurus, this weapon will be used not by German soldiers, but by Ukrainians," Merz told domestic press. He pointed out that the same principle applies to other cruise missiles already supplied to Ukraine by the UK and France. Taurus is very similar to the Franco-British SCALP and Storm Shadow missiles in terms of range, speed and payload. The key difference lies in the warhead design, as Taurus can be programmed to detonate after penetrating fortified targets, such as bunkers and reinforced facilities — the primary reason why Kyiv has been requesting the German-made missiles from Berlin since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in early 2022.
NBC News
2 days ago
- Politics
- NBC News
Pentagon halts weapons shipment to Ukraine amid concerns over U.S. stockpile
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth has ordered a pause on sending a shipment of missiles and ammunition to Ukraine amid concern about the U.S. military's stockpiles, according to two defense officials, two congressional officials, and two sources with knowledge. The delay comes weeks after Hegseth issued a memo ordering a review of the U.S. stockpile of munitions, which has been depleted after years of sending weapons to Ukraine to defend against the Russia invasion, as well as nearly two years of military operations in the Middle East as the U.S. fought against Houthi rebels in Yemen and defended Israel and allies against Iran, four of the officials said. The munitions and other weapons could be held up until the assessment is complete, the two defense officials and two congressional officials said, and if the munitions are in short supply or needed in other parts of the world, they could be held back even longer. The weapons being delayed include dozens of Patriot interceptors that can defend against incoming Russian missiles, thousands of 155mm high explosive Howitzer munitions, more than 100 Hellfire missiles, more than 250 precision-guided missiles known as GMLRS, and dozens of each of Stinger surface to air missiles, AIM air to air missiles, and grenade launchers, the two defense officials, two congressional officials, and two sources with knowledge said. 'This decision was made to put America's interests first following a DOD 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 spokeswoman Anna Kelly said. The Pentagon did not respond to a request for comment. During a closing press conference after a NATO meeting at The Hague last week, President Donald Trump said the U.S. is trying to find Patriot air defense missiles to send to Ukraine. 'They do want to have the anti-missile missiles,' Trump said of Ukraine. 'As they call them the Patriots, and we're going to see if we can make some available.' Trump said the U.S. is supplying weapons to Israel and that 'you know, they're very hard to get. We need them, too.' The delay comes after repeated appeals from Ukraine for additional U.S. and European air defense weaponry as Russia has stepped up its air raids in recent months. Over the weekend, Ukraine's defense ministry said Russia had launched the largest aerial attack on the country since Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, firing 60 missiles and 477 drones. Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are also working to secure a permanent ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Though it's common for new administrations to pause weapons transfers to assess stockpiles, there are concerns about the moment in which this is happening, according to one official with knowledge of the situation. The official said Ukraine needs to appear strong in order to get Russia to the negotiating table. During a visit to Washington on June 5, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's top adviser, Andriy Yermak, told reporters that his country was holding off Russian forces but needed more air defense systems to safeguard its cities from Russian attacks. The munitions were approved as part of Presidential Drawdown Authority and Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative packages during the Biden administration, the defense officials and two sources with knowledge said. Some of the shipments are already in the region, but have been stopped before being turned over to Ukraine, according to a defense official and two sources with knowledge. Last month the U.S.' Acting Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral James Kilby, warned during testimony before Congress that while the Navy has enough standard missiles, known as SM-3s, right now, the U.S. has been using some missiles and munitions 'at an alarming rate.'
