| |
US Weapons Pledged to Ukraine Not Sent 07/02 06:17
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The U.S. is halting some shipments of weapons to Ukraine
amid concerns that its own stockpiles have declined too much, officials said
Tuesday, a setback for the country as it tries to fend off escalating attacks
from Russia.
Certain munitions were previously promised to Ukraine under the Biden
administration to aid its defenses during the more than three-year-old war. The
pause reflects a new set of priorities under President Donald Trump and came
after Defense Department officials scrutinized current U.S. stockpiles and
raised concerns.
"This decision was made to put America's interests first following a review
of our nation's military support and assistance to other countries across the
globe," White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said in a statement. "The strength
of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned -- just ask Iran."
That was a reference to Trump recently ordering U.S. missile strikes against
nuclear sites in Iran.
Pentagon stocks of some weapons found to be low, official says
The Pentagon review determined that stocks were too low on some weapons
previously pledged, so pending shipments of some items won't be sent, according
to a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity to provide information
that has not yet been made public.
The Defense Department did not provide details on what specific weapons were
being held back.
"America's military has never been more ready and more capable," spokesman
Sean Parnell said, adding that the major tax cut and spending package moving
through Congress "ensures that our weapons and defense systems are modernized
to protect against 21st century threats for generations to come."
The halt of some weapons from the U.S. is a blow to Ukraine as Russia has
recently launched some of its biggest aerial attacks of the war, in an
escalating bombing campaign that has further dashed hopes for a breakthrough in
peace efforts championed by Trump. Talks between the sides have ground to a
halt.
The U.S. stoppage was first reported by Politico.
To date, the U.S. has provided Ukraine more than $66 billion worth of
weapons and military assistance since Russia invaded its neighbor in February
2022.
Over the course of the war, the U.S. has routinely pressed for allies to
provide air defense systems to Ukraine. But many are reluctant to give up the
high-tech systems, particularly countries in Eastern Europe that also feel
threatened by Russia.
Elbridge Colby, the Defense Department undersecretary for policy, said
officials continue "to provide the president with robust options to continue
military aid to Ukraine, consistent with his goal of bringing this tragic war
to an end."
"At the same time, the department is rigorously examining and adapting its
approach to achieving this objective while also preserving U.S. forces'
readiness for Administration defense priorities," Colby said in a statement.
Trump met with Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy on the sidelines of the
NATO summit last week and had left open the possibility of sending Kyiv more
U.S.-made Patriot air defense missile systems, acknowledging they would help
the Ukrainian cause.
"They do want to have the antimissile missiles, OK, as they call them, the
Patriots," Trump said then. "And we're going to see if we can make some
available. We need them, too. We're supplying them to Israel, and they're very
effective, 100% effective. Hard to believe how effective. They do want that
more than any other thing."
Trump administration shifts outlook on Ukraine military aid
Those comments hinted at thinking about providing weapons to Ukraine that's
begun to change across the administration in recent months.
In testimony before lawmakers in June, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said
he has moved quickly to quash wasteful programs and redirect funding to Trump's
top objectives.
Hegseth said a negotiated peace between Russia and Ukraine, which has been
promoted for months by Trump, makes America look strong, even though Moscow is
the aggressor in the conflict. He also said the defense budget includes hard
choices and "reflects the reality that Europe needs to step up more for the
defense of its own continent. And President Trump deserves the credit for that."
The defense secretary told lawmakers last month that some U.S. security
spending for Ukraine was still in the pipeline, without providing details. But
he said such assistance -- which has been robust for the past two years --
would be reduced.
"This administration takes a very different view of that conflict," Hegseth
said. "We believe that a negotiated peaceful settlement is in the best interest
of both parties and our nation's interests."
The change comes after Hegseth skipped a meeting last month of an
international group to coordinate military aid to Ukraine that the U.S. created
three years ago. Hegseth's predecessor, Lloyd Austin, formed the group after
Russia attacked Ukraine, and Hegseth's absence was the first time the U.S.
defense secretary wasn't in attendance.
Under Austin's leadership, the U.S. served as chair of the group, and he and
the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff attended monthly meetings, which were
both in person and by video.
Hegseth had previously stepped away from a leadership role of the Ukraine
Defense Contact Group -- turning that over to Germany and the United Kingdom --
before abandoning the gathering altogether.
|
|
