TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The United States has temporarily suspended the shipment of several weapons to Ukraine due to concerns about the diminishing supply of U.S. weapons, several officials said on Tuesday, marking a setback for Kyiv as it faces increasingly intensified Russian attacks.
The temporary suspension, which affects promised ammunition under former President Joe Biden, reflects new priorities under President Trump following a review of the reserves by the Pentagon and the U.S. Department of Defense.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the suspension of several missile and ammunition shipments to Ukraine, including dozens of Patriot interceptor missiles, over 100 Hellfire missiles, and tens of Stinger missiles, due to dwindling ammunition stocks.
NBC News and France24 reported on the suspension order, citing their sources, on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Ukraine will also not receive thousands of 155mm Howitzer high-explosive ammunition and over 250 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) precision missiles.
The decision to suspend shipments was issued several weeks after Hegseth initiated a review of U.S. ammunition stocks, which have dwindled over the past few years due to massive shipments to Ukraine and the Middle East.
Ukraine has been defending itself from Russian invasion for the past three years, while the U.S. has been engaged in two years of military operations in the Middle East in aiding Israel's genocide in Gaza and fighting Houthi rebels in Yemen, said four officials.
"This decision was made to put America’s interests first following a DOD review of our nation’s military support and assistance to other countries across the globe," said White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly to NBC News.
"The strength of the United States Armed Forces remains unquestioned — just ask Iran," she added.
In a closing press conference after the NATO meeting in The Hague last week, President Donald Trump said the United States is seeking to find Patriot air defense missiles to be sent to Ukraine.
"They do want to have the anti-missile missiles," Trump said about Ukraine. "As they call them the Patriots, and we’re going to see if we can make some available."
He said that the United States supplies weapons to Israel and that "you know, they’re very hard to get. We need them, too."
Ukraine has repeatedly requested additional air defense weaponry from the U.S. and Europe as Russia has escalated its air strikes in recent months. Over the weekend, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said Russia had launched its largest air strike in the country since Moscow's full-scale invasion in 2022, firing 60 missiles and 477 drones.
Trump and his Republican allies in Congress are also seeking to secure a permanent ceasefire. Although it is common for new administrations to halt weapon transfers to assess supplies, concerns have been raised about the timing of this occurrence, according to an official familiar with the situation.
The official said Ukraine needs to appear strong to bring Russia to the negotiating table.
During a visit to Washington on June 5, Ukrainian President's chief advisor, Volodymyr Zelensky, and Andriy Yermak, told reporters that his country is holding back Russian forces but needs more air defense systems to protect its cities from Russia's attacks.
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