When Kyiv expressed disappointment, the United States stopped some arms freight – Country
Senior officials said Ukraine is developing embryo plans for joint weapons production with some international allies.
These plans are a key point in the total war launched in Moscow nearly three years ago. Russia's efforts to recapture more Ukrainian land have put serious pressure on Ukraine's short-distance defense situation, with Russian missiles and drones beating Ukrainian cities. Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts led by the United States have stalled for a peaceful solution.
This is growing as Washington keeps distance from Ukraine’s war efforts under U.S. President Donald Trump, which is under pressure from European countries on Russia.
French President Emmanuel Macron and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first direct call in nearly three years on Tuesday. Macron's office said that during the two-hour conversation, the French leader stressed France's “firm support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity” and called for a ceasefire.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said officials are preparing for the sense of urgency of upcoming meetings with EU countries and other partners to talk about cooperation in the arms manufacturing industry.
“One of the main themes is weapons production – our joint investment, joint projects,” Zelenskyy said in his daily speech Tuesday night.
Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced that he is expected to vote on a draft legislation for joint weapons production in the Ukrainian parliament later this month. Umerov said the proposed law was shown to the defense company on Tuesday.
The plan includes plans for the development of special legal and tax frameworks to help Ukrainian defense manufacturers scale up and modernize production, including the establishment of new facilities at home and abroad.
Earlier this week, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said during a visit to Kiev that Germany aims to help Ukraine build more weapons faster. He accompanied the German defense industry representative to accompany him.
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Officials said Tuesday that the U.S. is stopping some of its weapons for some Ukraine to Ukraine because people are falling too far to their stocks. Some ammunition is a long-term commitment to Ukraine under the Biden administration, although the Ministry of Defense has not provided details on what specific weapons are held.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry convened John Hinkel's Chargé D'Affaire on Wednesday to discuss ongoing defense cooperation.
Deputy Foreign Secretary Maryana Betsa thanked the United States for its continued support, but stressed the “critical importance” of maintaining the previously allocated defense package, especially in strengthening Ukraine’s air defense defense.
Fedir Venislavskyi, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament's National Security and Defense Commission, declared the decision “very unpleasant for us”.
“It's painful, and it's a very unpleasant situation in the context of the terrorist attacks committed by Russia against Ukraine,” he told a reporter in Kiev.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Pentagon decision would help bring the solution closer because “the fewer weapons are provided to Ukraine, the closer the end of (the war) will come.”
The United States has been Ukraine's largest military supporter since Russia began its full-scale invasion of its neighbors on February 24, 2022. Under Trump, there are no new announcements on U.S. military or weapons assistance to Ukraine.
The United States did not allocate new aid to Ukraine between March and April, according to the Kiel Institute in Germany.
The institute said last month that since June 2022, the total amount of military aid from European countries has exceeded that of the United States, totaling 72 billion euros (85 billion US dollars), while the United States has 65 billion euros (77 billion US dollars).
Washington's latest decision could eliminate some of the most powerful weapons in Arsenal, the Ukrainian battlefield.
Analysts say Ukraine's European allies could fill some gaps and provide artillery systems. However, they did not replace the Associated Press's Himars missiles and air defense systems, especially Patriots, which is crucial to help defend Ukrainian cities from Russian air strikes.
It is unclear how many weapons or the most pressing demands Ukraine has.
& Copy 2025 Canadian Press
