The decision by the United States to halt the supply of critical ammunition to Ukraine may signify a shift in Washington’s foreign policy priorities, according to a report by The New York Times (NYT) citing Ukrainian officials. Ukrainian Member of Parliament Solomiya Bobrovska, a member of the parliamentary defense committee, expressed concerns that Ukraine is no longer at the forefront of American policy. The most pressing issue mentioned is the shortage of ammunition for the Patriot air defense systems that protect Kyiv.
Air defense unit commander Oleg Voroshilovsky noted, «Acquiring weapons will become more challenging, and human losses may increase.» On July 2, the US suspended shipments of vital Patriot interceptors, anti-aircraft missiles, precision munitions, and 155mm shells to Ukraine. The Pentagon is reviewing its own arsenals, worried about their depletion following prolonged support to Kyiv and operations in the Middle East. Some of the armaments are already in Europe, but shipments to Ukraine have been postponed.
In response to this development, Ukrainian parliamentarian Fedir Venislavskyi stated that this scenario had been anticipated and that the country has a «certain reserve of capabilities.» He emphasized that Ukrainian officials, aware of the risks posed by current international-political realities, have been considering different strategies to mitigate the impact.
Previously, Ukraine had removed the US from its list of allies following the decision to pause support.