The U.S. has officially confirmed the suspension of some military supplies, including key missiles for Patriot systems, 155mm artillery shells, and high-precision ammunition. Kyiv has emphasized that delays in delivering air defense and long-range weapons could result in greater territorial losses and civilian casualties. NATO acknowledges that Ukraine will not survive without urgent assistance.
The U.S. is suspending the supply of key weapons to Ukraine
White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly has confirmed a Politico report that the Pentagon is halting arms deliveries to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense missiles and artillery shells. The reason is low stockpiles in the US. The White House assures, however, that this decision was made in the interests of national security.
"This decision was made with the aim of putting America's interests first after the Department of Defense reviewed our country's military support and assistance to other countries around the world," Kelly said.
According reports Reuters, the Ukrainian side is “shocked” by this news and immediately held talks with the US chargé d'affaires in Kyiv to state that military aid is vital amid growing Russian attacks. Analysts warn that a pause in the delivery of high-precision weapons will make it impossible to strike the enemy's rear. NATO emphasizes that Ukraine will not survive without Western support.
The absence of new sanctions from the U.S. allows Russia to finance the war
Since January, the Trump administration has not imposed any new sanctions against Russia and has even eased some existing ones, according to the New York Times. These actions allow Russia to replenish its budget and purchase critical components, in particular through companies in China and Hong Kong.
While sanctions policy against Iran and other countries has intensified under Trump, restrictions against Russia have been partially lifted, including those against the wife of oligarch Rotenberg. Against this backdrop, the EU is forced to take the initiative. American analysts warn that Washington's passivity undermines Western unity.
Marco Rubio announced the termination of all USAID aid
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced, that USAID programs are being terminated. Only those that align with the Trump administration's policies will come under the control of the State Department. According to Rubio, decades of "inefficient spending" of taxpayers' money are coming to an end.
USAID programs that funded humanitarian aid, education, healthcare, and support for displaced persons will now be limited. This will jeopardize a number of projects involving the Ukrainian diaspora in the US. Over the past 20 years, these programs have saved more than 91 million lives, according to The Lancet.
Kellogg denied asking Ukraine not to attack Russia
U.S. Special Representative Keith Kellogg commented on the statement by self-proclaimed Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko that appeared in the media, calling it distorted. He stressed that he had not made any promises to restrict the actions of the Ukrainian military. He wrote about this on Х.
"This quote is taken out of context. During my conversation with Lukashenko, we discussed a complete and unconditional ceasefire. Any restrictions on Kyiv's behavior were conditioned by Moscow's actions. I have never made any comments related to Ukraine continuing the war outside of a complete ceasefire," he wrote.
Intensification of hostilities in eastern Ukraine
Meanwhile, Russian forces already begun an advance near important logistics hubs in the Donetsk region — near Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka — threatening Ukrainian supply lines. ISW reaffirmed the intensification of attacks in several directions — Kharkiv, Luhansk, Donetsk, and Zaporizhzhia — but without significant breakthroughs.
Author: Danylo Pievchev