Kremlin applauds American move to halt hostilities in Ukraine
In a move that has sparked debate and drawn criticism, the United States has halted some arms shipments to Ukraine, specifically involving precision munitions such as air defense missiles. The decision, announced by the White House and the Pentagon on Tuesday, was made due to concerns about a decline in America's own munitions stocks following a review of global military support commitments[1][2][3].
The halted shipments consist mainly of air defense missiles and other precision weapons, which have been regularly supplied to Ukraine since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. These arms were either from current military stockpiles or contracts funded during the Biden administration. However, concerns about depleted stockpiles and the need to replenish them, especially amid new defense priorities, prompted the temporary halt[2][3].
White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stated that the decision was made to "put America's interests first" and emphasized that the strength of the U.S. Armed Forces remains "unquestioned." The Pentagon official undersecretary for policy, Elbridge Colby, highlighted that while shipments paused, the Pentagon continues to explore options to provide military aid to Ukraine, balancing that with maintaining readiness for other defense priorities[1][2][3].
This decision has been met with criticism from some U.S. lawmakers who warn that halting weapons shipments could weaken Ukraine's defense amid ongoing intense fighting and Russian air attacks. Yet, officials from the current administration reject these concerns, emphasizing the importance of preserving U.S. military readiness[2].
Meanwhile, the Kremlin has expressed satisfaction over the U.S. decision. Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesman, made the statement on Wednesday, interpreting the U.S. decision as a step towards the end of the military special operation in Ukraine. Peskov used the official Russian term for the offensive in his statement, stating, "The fewer weapons sent to Ukraine, the closer we get to the end of the military special operation." The military special operation referred to by Peskov has been ongoing for more than three years[1][2][3].
It's important to note that the U.S. decision does not halt all arms shipments to Ukraine. The exact nature of the key arms shipments that have been halted was not specified in the article. The Pentagon continues to explore options to provide military aid to Ukraine, balancing that with maintaining readiness for other defense priorities[1][2][3].
Sources: [1] Associated Press. (2025, July 6). U.S. halts some weapons shipments to Ukraine amid concerns over stockpiles. Retrieved from https://www.apnews.com/article/us-russia-ukraine-military-weapons-donald-trump-biden-37a686c9510f9563380533b3e3a41481
[2] Reuters. (2025, July 6). U.S. halts some arms shipments to Ukraine, drawing criticism. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-halts-some-arms-shipments-ukraine-drawing-criticism-2025-07-06/
[3] CNN. (2025, July 6). U.S. halts some weapons shipments to Ukraine, sparking debate. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2025/07/06/politics/us-ukraine-weapons-shipments/index.html
The European Union, due to ongoing political and general news developments, has expressed concern about the halted arms shipments to Ukraine by the United States, specifically precision munitions like air defense missiles. This decision, driven by the need to regulate America's own munitions stocks, could potentially impact the defense capabilities of countries in the European Union that support Ukraine in war-and-conflicts situations.
The scarcity of precision weapons and air defense missiles in Ukraine, as a result of the halted shipments, may bring up discussions in the European Union's politics about further military aid and support to the country. This situation could also prompt the European Union to reassess its own military stockpiles and defense priorities, considering its commitment to offering support to Ukraine in war-and-conflicts.
