Ukraine left scrambling after US says halting weapons shipments

Ukraine summoned a senior US diplomat on Wednesday, urging its key ally not to cut or delay critical military aid after the White House said it was halting some weapons shipments.

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Kyiv said it had not been told anything by the United States about the halt to aid, which could thwart its ability to fend off escalating Russian air attacks.

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

Kyiv 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.

The US embassy’s deputy chief of mission, John Ginkel, was summoned on Wednesday — a rare diplomatic move usually reserved for foes and rivals, not vital allies —amid 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 in a statement.