Demand for Patriot air defense systems and their interceptor missiles is „growing significantly,“ a RUSI research fellow said.
With U.S. weapons and missile flows stanched at Ukraine’s borders, Kyiv is bracing for how it will keep its air defenses firing in the face of intense Russian bombardment and its guns leveled at slowly advancing Russian forces.
„I hope it’s a temporary halt related to the need to make some calculations with regard to American stockpiles“, said Oleksandr Merezhko, the chair of Ukraine’s parliamentary Foreign Affairs Committee.
„I also hope that those people who have taken this decision fully realize what consequences it might have for Ukraine, including safety of civilian population, if we don’t get on time the necessary munitions“, Merezhko told Newsweek.
On Tuesday, the U.S. confirmed it had paused the delivery of some of Ukraine’s most in-demand equipment and supplies. Politico first reported that a review of U.S. munitions stockpiles had raised concerns over a dip in the Department of Defense’s stockpiles, and that an initial decision to hold back some military aid pledged during the previous administration was made almost a month ago.
The stoppage applies to aid Ukraine receives both through the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative (USAI) and through donations pulled from U.S. military stocks, according to the report. Under USAI, Washington has been able to buy equipment for Ukraine from American industry players.
The U.S. has provided about $67 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022, the State Department said in a March news release. U.S. forces—and, crucially, the country’s stockpiles—have also been heavily involved in the Middle East, including by intercepting missiles heading for Israel.
„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. „The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned—just ask Iran.“
Last month, the U.S. carried out large-scale strikes on several Iranian nuclear sites.
Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said on Wednesday it had not „received any official notifications about the suspension or revision of the delivery schedules of the agreed defense assistance.“
The delayed weapons include rounds for 155 mm howitzers, more than 100 Hellfire missiles and precision-guided rounds known as GMLRS, NBC News reported.
The U.S. has also paused its deliveries of short-range Stinger missiles widely used by Ukraine and dozens of Patriot air defense missiles, vital for protecting major Ukrainian cities from Russia’s most advanced weapons. Getting more of the U.S.
