KYIV, Ukraine, July 2, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Ukraine appealed to the United 
States for clarity on Wednesday after it was caught off guard by a White 
House announcement that Washington was halting some arms shipments to the 
war-battered country.

The Ukrainian defence ministry, which is deeply dependent on US arms, said it 
had not been notified about the reduction in aid announced one day earlier.

Moscow revelled in the decision, saying it could bring the end of the war 
closer. Any slow down in US support could harm Kyiv's ability to fend off 
escalating Russian aerial bombardments or frontline gains.

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.

"It will be even more scary, even more painful, and even more civilians will 
suffer," Kyiv resident Yevgenia Prysiazhna told AFP, referring to an uptick 
in overnight drone and missile attacks on Ukraine.

"I really hope that this is a temporary decision," the communications manager 
said.

John Ginkel, the deputy chief of mission at the US embassy in Kyiv, was 
summoned by the foreign ministry -- a rare diplomatic move usually reserved 
for foes and rivals, not vital allies -- given 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.

The White House had said it was halting some key weapons shipments promised 
by the previous US administration, without elaborating.

Under Biden, Washington spearheaded Western support for Ukraine, with 
Congress having approved more than $100 billion in aid, including $43 billion 
in weaponry.

Trump instead has pushed the two sides into peace talks, including in phone 
calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin -- who rejected calls for a 
ceasefire and demanded Ukraine cede more territory if it wants Moscow to halt 
its invasion, launched in 2022.

- 'Consistent pressure' -

Te US president refused to announce new packages and Kyiv has been corralling 
Washington's European allies to step up support.

Kyiv remains "seriously dependent" on US arms supplies, a high-ranking source 
in the Ukrainian military told AFP.

"Europe is doing its best, but it will be difficult for us without American 
ammunition," the source added.

A May report by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) 
said Europe "had only made limited progress" in strengthening its defence 
industries.

But it said that "continued US aid remains extremely important for Ukraine's 
long-term effectiveness on the battlefield."

In Moscow, the Kremlin said reducing weapons deliveries to Kyiv would help 
end the conflict.

"The fewer the number of weapons that are delivered to Ukraine, the closer 
the end of the special military operation," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov 
told reporters in response to a question by AFP, using Russia's term for its 
more than three-year offensive.

The White House told AFP in an email that the decision to reduce shipments 
was taken following a "review of our nation's military support and assistance 
to other countries".

Kyiv said it was caught off-guard by the move. The defence ministry said the 
country had "not received any official notifications" on the issue.

"The path to ending the war lies through consistent and joint pressure on the 
aggressor, as well as through continued support for Ukraine," it added.

- Escalating drone attacks -

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.

Russia has ramped up attacks on Ukraine in June, launching nearly twice as 
many missiles and over 30 percent more drones than in May, according to an 
AFP analysis of Ukrainian air force data.

Kyiv was in June subjected to at least four fatal attacks that left over 40 
dead -- and its residents worried a cessation of US aid would leave the 
capital even more vulnerable.

"We had gotten used to seeing America as a country of values, a country that 
defends democracy," Igor Stambol, a Kyiv resident, told AFP.

"But there is hope that they will remember their values," the 36-year-old 
added.