Ukraine's Defense Ministry requests phone call with US to discuss arms supply
Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense has requested a phone call with U.S. officials to address reports of suspended defense aid shipments, according to its Facebook post.
The ministry stated it is verifying the status of previously allocated U.S. defense aid packages amid reports of delays.
Ukraine has not received official notification of any suspension or revision of delivery schedules.
“Certain individuals in Ukraine commenting publicly on this situation lack full factual information due to objective reasons,” the ministry said, urging the public to rely only on official statements.
Mykhailo Podolyak, an advisor to the head of the Presidential Office, earlier stated that U.S. weapons deliveries continue.
Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of Ukraine’s parliamentary national security committee, told RBC-Ukraine that Kyiv has no official confirmation of suspended deliveries of air defense missiles or other munitions from the U.S.
Background
On July 1, U.S. media reported that the Pentagon, under the direction of Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, paused deliveries of certain air defense missiles and precision munitions to Ukraine, citing concerns over depleted U.S. arsenals.
According to PBS News correspondent Nick Schifrin, the suspension includes PAC-3 interceptors for Patriot systems, 155mm artillery shells, GMLRS rockets for M270 MLRS and HIMARS, Stinger anti-tank missiles, AIM-7, and Hellfire missiles.
The last $500 million aid package was announced in January under President Joe Biden. In March, it was reported that Ukraine received 90% of the weapons allocated by the previous U.S. administration.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is ready to purchase a “large aid package” from the U.S., having submitted a list of desired weapons and awaiting a response.