The Ukrainian foreign ministry called in a top U.S. diplomat in Kyiv to discuss American military aid to the country, after the Trump Administration scrapped a planned weapons shipment because of concerns about its own diminishing stockpiles.
The decision is a setback for Ukraine as it tries to fend off escalating attacks from Russia, which has deployed 50,000 troops near the border with Ukraine’s Sumy region. President Donald Trump said he is watching the situation closely amid fears of a new offensive.
John Ginkel, Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, met with Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Mariana Betsa on Wednesday after he was invited there by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
“The Ukrainian side emphasized 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,” said a release from the foreign ministry.
The ministry added that “strengthening Ukraine’s defense capabilities and increasing coordinated transatlantic pressure on the aggressor are critically important” to securing peace by ending Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv for comment.
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Pentagon Review Prompts Ukraine Halt
The U.S. said it is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much. It did not specify exactly what shipments would be withheld.
Certain munitions were previously promised to Ukraine under the Biden administration to aid its defenses during the more than three-year-old war. The pause reflects a new set of priorities under Trump and came after Defense Department officials scrutinized current U.S. stockpiles and raised concerns.
“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.”
An unnamed Ukrainian official told the Financial Times they were counting on the delivery of the systems and that their military planning was significantly affected as a result of the cancellation.
Trump Still Has Ukraine Options
Trump said after the NATO leaders’ summit in the Netherlands that he was considering sending more Patriot missiles to Ukraine, which Kyiv had requested to help it defend its skies against Russian missile and drone attacks on its cities.
U.S. Undersecretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said in a statement to the media that the Pentagon “continues to provide the president with robust options to continue military aid to Ukraine.”
Trump is attempting to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine, but progress is slow, and the fighting rages on. Direct talks between Russia and Ukraine have yielded little beyond prisoner exchanges.
Kyiv and its European allies want Trump to increase pressure on Vladimir Putin, arguing the Russian president will only make peace if forced to do so. But Trump sees Ukrainian demands as unrealistic in light of the battlefield realities and Russian strength.
This article includes reporting by The Associated Press.
