Kyiv scrambles for clarity as US downplays halt to weapons

US officials on Wednesday downplayed a White House announcement that Washington was pausing some weapons shipments to Ukraine, after the war-battered country was caught off-guard and appealed for clarity.

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Ukraine is contending with some of Russia's largest missile and drone attacks of the three-year war, and a halt to the provision of munitions — especially for air defence — would be a significant blow to Kyiv.

“The Department of Defense continues to provide the president with robust options regarding military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war to an end,” Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told journalists Wednesday.

State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce meanwhile told reporters that “this is not a cessation of us assisting Ukraine or of providing weapons. This is one event, and one situation, and we'll discuss what else comes up in the future.”

The White House had said Tuesday that it is halting some key weapons shipments to Ukraine that were promised under the Biden administration, without providing details on which weapons programmes were affected.

It said the decision was taken after a review of US defense needs and of its military assistance to foreign countries.

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

Politico and other US media reported that missiles for Patriot air defence systems, precision artillery and Hellfire missiles are among the items being held back.