U.S. Pauses Some Weapons Shipments to Ukraine Amid Escalating War and Stockpile Concerns

As Ukraine faces one of its most intense waves of Russian attacks since the war began, the United States has decided to pause certain weapons shipments to Kyiv — a move that’s already sparking concern among Ukrainian leaders.

The White House confirmed the decision on Tuesday, saying it came after a Department of Defense review and was made to “put America’s interests first.” While officials did not specify which weapons are being withheld, reports suggest that Patriot air defense missiles, precision artillery rounds, and other high-demand munitions are affected.

Strategic Pause or Risky Timing?

This shift comes at a particularly sensitive time for Ukraine. Over the weekend, the country endured what it called the largest aerial assault since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022 — more than 500 drones, ballistic missiles, and cruise missiles were launched by Russian forces.

Ukrainian MP Fedir Venislavskyi, part of the ruling party, described the U.S. decision as “very unpleasant and painful,” especially in the face of ongoing “terrorist attacks” by Russia.

What’s Behind the U.S. Decision?

A U.S. official told CBS News the pause is driven by growing concerns that American stockpiles of advanced weaponry are running too low. Despite this, White House spokesperson Anna Kelly stressed that the strength of U.S. forces remains unquestioned, adding pointedly, “Just ask Iran.”

The Defense Department echoed this message. Undersecretary Elbridge Colby stated that the Pentagon remains committed to supporting Ukraine but is “rigorously examining” how to balance that aid with U.S. military readiness.

Trump and Zelensky: From Confrontation to Cooperation

The announcement also follows a recent meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky during the NATO summit in the Netherlands. Though the two had previously clashed — most notably during a tense Oval Office meeting in March — Trump said their latest conversation was “very nice.”

He also suggested that the U.S. might still supply more Patriot missile systems to Ukraine, saying, “We are going to see if we can make some of them available.”

Earlier this year, Trump temporarily paused both military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine — suspensions that were later reversed. In April, a new deal between Washington and Kyiv was signed, giving the U.S. access to Ukraine’s valuable mineral reserves in exchange for continued military assistance.

International Talks and Russian Claims

Meanwhile, diplomacy saw a surprising development. French President Emmanuel Macron spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin for over two hours on Tuesday — their first direct conversation in more than two years. Macron called for a ceasefire and peace talks to achieve a “lasting resolution” to the war.

The Kremlin, however, doubled down. Putin reportedly told Macron that Western policies were to blame for the conflict, claiming that Russia’s security concerns had long been ignored. Just last month, Putin declared that “the whole of Ukraine is ours,” asserting a shared identity between Russians and Ukrainians.

On the Ground: Russia Advances, Ukraine Strikes Back

Russia continues to make slow but steady gains in Ukraine. This week, it claimed full control of the eastern Luhansk region and reported new territory captured in the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region. Moscow now controls about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea, annexed back in 2014.

But Ukraine isn’t backing down. On Tuesday, it launched a long-range strike on a weapons manufacturing plant in Izhevsk, deep inside Russian territory — more than 1,000 kilometers from the border. The attack killed at least three people and targeted a facility known for producing drones and radar systems.