Ukraine asks US for clarity as some military aid halted

Ukraine has appealed to the United States for clarity after it was caught off guard by a White House announcement that Washington was halting some arms shipments to the war-torn country.

The Ukrainian defence ministry, which is deeply dependent on US arms, said it had not been notified about the reduction in aid announced a day before.

Russia revelled in the decision, saying it could bring the end of the war "closer".

Any slow down in US support could harm Ukraine's ability to fend off escalating Russian aerial bombardments or frontline gains.

Ukraine has long feared halts to US aid after Donald Trump returned to the White House in January, having criticised the tens of billions of dollars in support and weapons sent by his predecessor, Joe Biden.

"It will be even more scary, even more painful, and even more civilians will suffer," Kyiv resident Yevgenia Prysiazhna said, referring to an uptick in overnight drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.

"I really hope that this is a temporary decision," the communications manager said.

John Ginkel, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Kyiv, was summoned by the foreign ministry - a rare diplomatic move usually reserved for foes and rivals, not vital allies - given uncertainty about what the cuts would mean for Kyiv.

"The Ukrainian side stressed that any delay or procrastination in supporting Ukraine's defence capabilities would only encourage the aggressor to continue the war," Ukraine's foreign ministry said.

The White House had said it was halting some key weapons shipments promised by the previous US administration, without elaborating.

Under Mr Biden, Washington spearheaded western support for Ukraine, with congress having approved more than $100 billion in aid, including $43 billion in weaponry.

Mr Trump instead has pushed the two sides into peace talks, including in phone calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin - who rejected calls for a ceasefire and demanded Ukraine cede more territory if it wants Moscow to halt its invasion, launched in 2022.

Key military aid from US halted

The Pentagon review determined that stocks had become too low on some previously pledged munitions and that some pending shipments would now not be sent, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity, according to Politico, which first reported the halt of military aid.

"The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned - just ask Iran," White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said, making a reference to the recent US bombings and missile strikes against the Islamic republic's nuclear facilities.

Politico and other US media reported that missiles for Patriot air defence systems, precision artillery and hellfire missiles are among the items being held back.

Michael McFaul, who was the US ambassador to Russia from 2012 until just before the Crimea conflict began in 2014, said on X: "The Trump administration is even stopping delivery of Patriots? So, disgusting and embarrassing as the leader of the free world. I guess we are done with that."

Last week at a NATO summit in the Netherlands, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met Mr Trump and appeared to get a vague response from the US president on Patriot air defence systems.

"We're going to see if we can make some available," Mr Trump said of the missiles that Ukraine desperately seeks to shoot down Russian attacks.

"They're very hard to get," he added.

Escalating drone attacks in Ukraine

Russia ramped up attacks on Ukraine in June, launching nearly twice as many missiles and over 30% more drones than the previous month, according to an AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data.

An AFP analysis published yesterday found that Russia dramatically ramped up aerial attacks in June, firing thousands of drones as Ukraine's stretched air defence systems and exhausted civilian population felt the Kremlin's increased pressure.

Kyiv was in June subjected to at least four fatal attacks that left over 40 dead -- and its residents worried a cessation of US aid would leave the capital even more vulnerable.

"We had gotten used to seeing America as a country of values, a country that defends democracy," said Igor Stambol, a Kyiv resident.

"But there is hope that they will remember their values," the 36-year-old added.