Kremlin welcomes US pausing weapon shipments to Ukraine

Washington's decision to suspend military aid to Ukraine has been welcomed in Moscow and seen in Beijing as a confirmation of the limits of American power.

- Nina Kuryata

US arms shipments to Kyiv were halted on Wednesday with the explanation that the Pentagon’s stockpiles were falling dangerously low, even though the weapons in question were already in Poland.

The list of weapons that were stopped includes PAC-3 missiles for Patriot air defence systems, Hellfire and other missiles for F-16 fighter jets, Stinger shoulder-fired missiles, and thousands of 155mm artillery shells, all needed at the front line.

"This decision was made to put America’s interests first," the White House deputy press secretary, Anna Kelly, said, referring to a US defence department review. Ukraine's foreign ministry said the decision would "only encourage the aggressor to continue the war and terror".