LONDON — The White House announced on Tuesday that President Donald Trump’s administration has frozen the shipment of certain air defense and precision-guided weapons that were scheduled to be sent to Ukraine.
Officials cited a review of U.S. stockpiles as the reasoning behind this decision.
“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,” stated White House spokesperson Anna Kelly.
She emphasized, “The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran.”
The decision was first reported by Politico, but details about other potential weapon shipments and the extent of the paused aid remain unclear.
The Pentagon did not provide further information regarding the decision.
Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell expressed confidence in the military, stating, “America’s military has never been more ready and more capable thanks to President Trump and Secretary Hegseth’s leadership.”
He continued, “Our service members are fully equipped to deter against any threat, and the Senate’s recent passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill ensures that our weapons and defense systems are modernized to protect against 21st-century threats for generations to come.”
Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby offered an updated statement on Wednesday, indicating that the military is still providing President Trump with substantial options for continuing military aid to Ukraine, aligned with his objective of ending the ongoing conflict.
Mykhailo Podolyak, a top adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office, has denied rumors of an end to U.S. air defense supplies.
Speaking on Ukrainian television on Wednesday, Podolyak commented that negotiations are still in progress regarding the provision of weaponry, which may include potential purchases by Kyiv.
“America will not abandon its support for Ukraine in protecting civilians from Russian strikes,” asserted Podolyak.
He added, “There are enough anti-missile systems and missiles for them in U.S. warehouses. Negotiations on their supply to Ukraine, including on a commercial basis, are ongoing.”
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry also reacted to reports of the freeze, stating on Telegram that they had not received any official notification about the suspension or alteration of scheduled defense assistance deliveries.
They emphasized the critical need for consistency and reliability in the provision of agreed-upon military aid, particularly focusing on bolstering air defense capabilities.
“For Ukraine, it is critically important to maintain resilience, continuity, and predictability in the provision of the agreed defense assistance — especially in strengthening our air defense systems,” the ministry stated.
Furthermore, they expressed gratitude towards the U.S. for its support and recognized the efforts of American partners aimed at achieving lasting peace.
The ministry reiterated, “We emphasize that the path to ending the war lies through consistent and collective pressure on the aggressor, as well as through continued support for Ukraine.”
Oleksandr Merezhko, a member of the Ukrainian parliament and chair of its foreign affairs committee, described the reports as concerning but expressed hope that they represented a temporary administrative delay.
He warned that any delay in aid could negatively impact Ukraine’s defense capabilities, particularly within air defense.
Merezhko cautioned that even a hint of postponed assistance would likely embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin to escalate attacks.
Just a week prior to the freeze, President Trump had expressed a willingness to consider selling Patriot missiles to Ukraine.
After meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Trump stated, referring to Ukraine’s interest in the anti-missile systems, “They do want to have the anti-missile, missiles. As they call them the Patriots, and we’re going to see if we can make some available.”
He declared, “You know, they’re very hard to get. We need them too. We were supplying them to Israel, and they’re very effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective.”
Regarding financial support, Trump said, “As far as money going, we’ll see what happens. There’s a lot of spirit.”
The Patriot missile system has been crucial for Ukraine, successfully intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, drones, and aircraft since its introduction to the country in the spring of 2023.
Reports indicate that Russia is intensifying attacks with near-nightly drone and missile strikes on various cities and strategic targets throughout Ukraine.
In June, Ukrainian forces reported a record number of attacks, including 5,438 drones and 239 missiles launched by Russia, demonstrating the urgency of Ukraine’s defense capabilities.
As of April 2025, the United States remains the single largest provider of aid to Ukraine, having delivered approximately $130 billion in total support since 2022, with around $74 billion designated for military assistance.
While European Union nations have contributed more overall, totaling $157 billion, their military support has been slightly lower than the U.S. at just under $73 billion.
Late in 2024, Ukrainian lawmakers approved a military and security budget of roughly $53.7 billion.
Concerns have arisen regarding future American military support, as President Trump has indicated potential limitations on aid for Kyiv both during his campaign and since resuming office in January.
This uncertainty intensified following a nine-month pause on U.S. aid in 2024 due to a congressional stalemate, which maneuvered Kyiv to consider a future without American assistance.
In March 2025, Trump instituted a week-long freeze on all military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, although assistance resumed shortly afterward.
Despite this, frustrations regarding stalled U.S.-brokered peace talks have intensified.
The administration authorized a $50 million military aid package to Ukraine in April, only after Kyiv agreed to a controversial minerals sharing arrangement.
Additionally, there remains approximately $3.9 billion allocated for military aid to Ukraine that is yet to be utilized, which could be quickly delivered from U.S. stockpiles, reflecting a shift from former President Joe Biden’s inability to allocate those funds before his term concluded.
President Zelenskyy has noted that American support accounts for roughly 30% of Ukrainian weaponry, with conservative estimates placing it closer to 20%.
Regardless, the United States remains a vital benefactor, particularly in providing advanced weapon systems that are not available from Ukraine or European sources.
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