Overview
- The administration paused shipments of Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds and Hellfire missiles following a Pentagon review that cited dwindling U.S. stockpiles.
- Ukraine’s defense ministry summoned U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission John Ginkel, and Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa warned that any slowdown in support would embolden Russian aggression.
- Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell and State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce insisted the pause does not amount to a full cessation of aid and that robust military-assistance options remain available.
- Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov welcomed the pause, saying fewer Western arms deliveries would hasten the end of Russia’s “special military operation.”
- President Trump plans to speak with President Putin on Thursday and hold a separate call with President Zelenskiy on Friday to discuss the war and the arms pause.